Not being taken seriously is a good thing

There was a time when he was perceived as a chocolate-boy hero, thanks to his fair skin and good looks. But now, Kiran Srinivas is happy that Kannada audiences will get to see him in a different role in Niruttara, which sees him playing a 'realistic guy'. Stressing that he was never on an intentional break from Sandalwood, the model-turned-actor spoke to BT about the film, working with his friend, Aindrita Ray, and why it can be liberating to not have the focus on you.Excerpts'
Essaying a realistic character
My role in the film is very realistic and believable; it's something that I could relate to. My character is a rock musician who is just out of college and is figuring out what he wants to do. He's a passionate guy who is going through an interesting phase in his life. He is confused and is given a reality check. He's basically someone who represents the current 24-26 year olds.
Friends on and off screen
Mine and Aindrita's (Ray) characters in the film are similar to what we are like in real life. In the film, like in real life, we are good friends, and our characters have no romantic feelings for each other. It was very cool working with her. I have known her for 8-9 years, so it was a casual working relationship. We would have a lot of fun during the shoots and would hang out after wrap-up as well. Knowing each other helped a lot.

Working with a meticulous director
I enjoyed working with Apurva (Kasaravalli, director) ' that was the highlight of the film for me. He is very keen and meticulous, and has a clear vision about each and every scene ' from my clothes, to the colour of the drapes, the body language, etc. This was a challenge for me because no other director would try to get the best out of me. I gave
4-5 takes for each scene, only because Apurva wanted the very best. People would tell me that I am good-looking, but Apurva and DOP (HM) Ramachandra have really made me look good in this film.
Not being taken seriously is not a bad thing
I am doing a Kannada film after a long time, but I never wanted to be on a break from Sandalwood, and never said that I don't want to work here. I don't feel any pressure this time around, which is great. People don't care if I am doing films or not, which is a good place to be in. When I first began acting, I felt immense pressure because I was the leading man in the film. But now, I know that nobody expects anything from me for this film; they have expectations from the other actors and the director, so the focus is on them. And I'm glad that this is the case, since without expectations, the joy of performing is 100%.
Being seen in a different light
People used to give me roles based on my skin colour. They would tell me that I could only essay certain kind of roles because I am fair and good looking, and the audience would not accept me any other way. Many filmmakers would put me in the same category as Diganth, and the films that he couldn't do, used to come my way. Perhaps, my poor choice of scripts early on in my career also made them think that I couldn't do any other kinds of roles. I found work in Mumbai only because the offers here didn't excite me. I am glad that Apurva thought that I could pull off a different kind of role. I hope that people see me in a different light now.