My first film nearly killed me

When youngsters from a non-filmy background set out with starry aspirations, luck plays a big part in getting their first break. To say that Jwala was lucky in landing the lead role in Jwalantham for his debut would be an understatement. The actor, whose real name is Gowtham, was working in Chennai when he decided to give up everything and move to Bengaluru to fulfil his childhood dream of becoming an actor.A chance meeting with director Ambarish BM on the sets of the tele-film Chatting Cheating gave him the opportunity he was so eagerly waiting for.
'I feel more than lucky to have landed such a role for my first film. When I first read the script and the role that I would be required to do, I was nervous because I wasn't sure if I would be able to pull it off and do justice to it. I don't know what Ambarish saw in me, but it was his confidence and trust in me and my acting that not only made me take up the role, but also give it my all. If I was debuting in a commercial film, while I would obviously want it to be a hit, I wouldn't have been too worried if it didn't do that well. But debuting in a movie like Jwalantham, that too as the lead actor, has got my hopes really high,' says Jwala, who is an engineering graduate.
Speaking about his role, the cast and the shooting experience, he says, 'In the first half, I play a classy, dignified youth, but in the second half, I undergo a drastic change not just in looks, but in character as well. Why that happens forms the crux of the story. Ambarish is a technically sound director. He knows exactly what he wants and that makes our job easier. The acting workshop that most of us underwent before the shooting schedule made a big difference for a debutant like me. What also helped was that the cast and crew were very friendly and helpful. We bonded so well that, for instance, when we had to trek through a forest to reach a hill to shoot a scene, we used to divide the equipment among us and carry it to the spot.'
Jwala's initial hesitation about his role was due to the many challenging scenes, such as the one in which he had to be dug up neck-deep in sand for 20 straight days close to a sea shore. 'I was excited more than scared when I was told about that scene. The first few days were really difficult, but I soon got used to it. Besides, I was in character, so that gave me the strength to push through. But the one time that I was really scared was when the waves started washing over my head and the crew had to protect me from drowning by covering my head with a bucket, which in turn cut off the air supply. I wondered if my first film was going to be my last,' he says. The actor is pleased that the Kannada audience is very receptive to movies of unexplored genres these days. He says, 'The timing of Jwalantham's release is perfect because there is a demand for such offbeat feature films. Movie audiences have expectations from newcomers to deliver something new and unique, and films such as RangiTaranga show that there is a market for experimental films with a never-before-seen cast and crew.'
All apart, does Jwala consider himself lucky to be acting with not one, but two heroines in his debut film? 'Yes, of course, but there is no love triangle or anything of that sort. Maybe next time,' he says.