#CatchChitChat: Dear Dad's Arvind Swamy just revealed why he stayed away from Bollywood for 15 years

You say you never wanted to be an actor, so how did you bag a role in Mani Ratnam film?

"I started modelling in early days of my career for pocket money as my dad did not give me enough money. In college I had certain expenses which I could not go and disclose to dad and account for it, so I started doing ads in the side and spent the money on me. I guess, Mani Ratnam saw one of my advertisements and called me for an audition. He liked my work and said 'We start shooting in next two weeks' but I asked him to talk to my father."

"He came home and convinced my dad. I finished Roja and I left for studies in the US. I was not here when Roja release, so I never knew how audiences received that film."

But people still talk about your performance in Roja and Bombay.

"I am very touched by the love people have given me for Bombay and Roja. People around me are curious to know why I quit film and all those stuff. So it makes me feel good."

How has the industry changed in the last 15 years?

"There have been a lot of changes in the film industry during the last 15 years especially in terms of technology. I guess technology makes film-making a bit easy. Earlier, direction was very complex, but today you can take your phone and shoot a film. People can actually do short films and shoot them on a mobile phone. Secondly, I think internet and everything else has brought a lot of exposure about world cinema to the audiences. The audiences are now aware about different genres and films, which is good for Indian cinema."

Do you identify with your character in Dear Dad? How did you manage to shoot for two different genres like Thani Oruvan and Dear Dad?

"It is not difficult for me to jump between characters as I don't shoot for films simultaneously. I shot for Thani Oruvan, following which I took up Dear Dad and now I will be shooting again from Thani Oruvan in Telugu. It is an actors dream to be able to play different contrasting characters. My character in Dear Dad is very unlike me in real life."

So are you open to playing negative characters?

"I don't care if the character is negative or positive for the simple reason that I have never catered to a particular image. In Thani Oruvan, I did not play a conventional negative role, it was an anti-hero role. The movie is focused on him, but he is a bad person."

How involved are you in the process of film-making?

"Before signing a script, I ask the director a lot of questions about different situations. I debate and argue and put up suggestions. I think that is an important process for everybody involved in film-making as that helps me understand my character better. We discuss various things to improve the script."

How important are film promotions in today's time?

"I think promotions have become very important these days as they are essential to create awareness about a film. I am not entirely comfortable promoting a film as I am a recluse, but I understand the importance of film promotions. It is not in my comfort zone but I am obligated to do it."

Dear Dad releases on 13 May 2016.