Sikander is a light hearted entertainer: Suriya

What sort of feedback have you got?
Sikandar is a breezy entertainer targeted at youth. The film has got a huge opening. The numbers indicate the opening collections are twice as big as that of Singham 2 and I���ve been flooded with messages like ���awesome entertainer���, ���loved it���, ���a massy entertainer���, etc. Overseas too, it has got a great opening, so there is a lot of positive vibe about it.But at the same time, there are those who are saying ���It���s not like Ghajini���, and I���m like ���Man, I did not say it���s a Ghajini���. Every film has an idea of its own and can���t be a Ghajini.
The film���s got some scathing reviews online.
Right through our promotions, we projected Sikandar as a light-hearted entertainer. It���s not something like a Seventh Sense, Brothers or a Singham and nor is it an experimental film laden with heavy emotion. If you say Dabangg doesn���t have a strong storyline and has no substance, I don���t know what to say to that. We have a lot of short filmmakers who flood micro blogging sites with opinions about how the screenplay should have been better and how perhaps the film needed a flashback episode, etc.
Everybody is entitled to their opinion and I respect that. But as an actor, I try to fit in a sensibility that reaches out to newer pockets of audiences. For example, when Singham released, the A centre audience felt was that it was too rustic. Guess every time I attempt a minor sensibility change, it is bound to create such reactions. Ultimately, it all boils down to the box office collections.
The jokes must be difficult to digest?
Not really��� I don���t know how many people are there on Twitter and what difference it makes��� I really don���t have much to say about them. I���ve always been reserved by nature and don���t like to talk much. Also, I don���t have any strong opinions to make about each and everything. So, I choose to stay away from the micro-blogging universe.
RajuBhai doesn���t look like a regular mafia don.
I liked the attitude that the character carried, the way Raju Bhai is supposed to behave, and it���s not the hardcore RGV or a Vishal Bharadwaj film. In Hollywood films, we don���t see an actor with tears running down his face, beating his chest and crying; every director has his own way of doing things. Lingusamy sir did not want me to have those hardcore emotions even though it���s a revenge drama.
You���ve recently said that you���re acting in a Telugu film soon.
I enjoyed dubbing for my previous film Brothers and have wanted to act in a straight Telugu film. I���ve signed for a Telugu film, taken my advance, I know my director, know my producer, and I just want them to announce it. If everything goes as per the plan,we must start shooting early next year.
Tollywood has become a second home for you.
Oh yes. I share this special connection with the Telugu audience who���ve accepted me with open arms. Sikandar has had a massive release across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. I want to thank producers Lagadapati Sreedhar and Sireesha Sridhar for ensuring such a grand release. I go back a long time with them and that this film marks the 10-year successful run of their production house Ramalakshmi Cine Creations is a matter of great pride.
Your wife Jyothika is making a comeback after seven years. Excited?
She avoided acting for the last seven-eight years because the kids were growing up and needed Jo to be around. Jo thought if not now then she wouldn���t be able to do it again. The kids are grown up and directors started coming and saying ���you don���t have to act, but just listen to the script���. We couldn���t avoid it, and had to respect the time they had taken to develop the script.We thought we would politely avoid it, but this idea was really good.We���ve met a couple of filmmakers and could be signing up two-three films soon.
Any likelihood of Jyothika acting with you again?
Not as of now (laughs). She���s never played second fiddle to a hero ever and has done prominent characters and I don���t think she���ll make an exception with my film.
So who calls the shots at home?
I like to play second fiddle to her on the home front. She���s been a successful actor, a great homemaker, and I like her decision making. So, I leave it to her to make important decisions at home. Jo is very organised. She would have dates all marked on the calendar for the whole year ahead and made arrangements for the kids birthdays, vacations, etc. She foresees things, and balancing work and family time is something I���ve been learning from her. Time and again, I need to be reminded about things. I���ve seen her being both dad and mom. I felt guilty and corrected a lot of things in me. I think I���m becoming a better person because of her.