New innings

ACTOR HARISH KALYAN, WHO HAS MADE A MARK IN TAMIL CINEMA, FORAYS INTO TOLLYWOOD WITH THE UPCOMING FILM KAADHALI

When the budding actor from Tamil cinema got an opportunity to star in a Telugu film, he willingly agreed despite it being an unfamiliar territory. For Harish Kalyan, the prospect of debuting with the Telugu film Kaadhali was more of an attempt to expand his horizons. “I had no apprehensions or doubts about it. Because I know that if the movie clicks, things would be great with two different sets of audiences being a huge asset for me as an artiste,” reasons the actor, who is acting with Sai Ronak and Pooja Doshi in the romance drama directed by debutant Pattabhi R. Chilukuri, and was the first among the actors to be signed for the film.

Was he uncomfortable at any point? “I have watched a lot of Telugu films and listen to songs too, and so the language was familiar. However, I knew I had to be prepared and started practising way before the film’s shoot began. I have a Telugu-speaking friend who was my go-to guy for all doubts related to the language. Also, there was a Tamilian assistant director on the sets who helped me out! Over the period of the film’s making, I have begun to converse in Telugu a bit. When I began shooting, the language was the only challenge for me. But towards the end, things slowly began to get easier,” shares the actor, who plays a pleasant and optimistic individual who keep changing professions with the only aim in life being happiness. So, do Telugu films feature in his scheme of things now? “Of course! Not everyone gets a chance to reach out to a wide set of audiences. But I have got that and I am going to make the most of it, by balancing between Telugu and Tamil films. But for now, I am waiting for response to Kaadhali,” he states. I am going to make the most of this new opportunity and will try balancing Telugu and Tamil films