Once an engineering graduate, now an actor with nearly 20 years under his belt, Sudeep has firmly established himself in the Kannada film industry. He has worked with stalwarts like V Nagendra Prasad, Ram Gopal Varma, and SS Rajamouli. Tamil and Telugu audiences got to know him through Naan E (2012), in which he played the antagonist. As his next film, Mudinja Ivana Pudi, gears up for release, Sudeep talks to Silverscreen.in about the people who continue to inspire him through his journey in films.
Sudeep is a man of many talents. He sings beautifully, is unfailingly polite to his fans (his social media interactions with them are delightful), and can flip a mean cheese omelette in seconds. His passion in life is cinema, and he likes being involved in every aspect of it. Throughout his long career, Sudeep has found that it is the people who inspire him, and not just their art.
SS Rajamouli
Rajamouli gaaru is a child at heart. I guess that is why he is able to craft new worlds on such a magnificent scale. When he called me to act in Naan E, I was apprehensive. He is a hit director and I did not want to spoil his record. It was a gamble, but thankfully, it paid off. Since then, I have learnt to trust in his faith in me. I deeply admire his dedication to his craft, and the way he goes about getting his work done. It is rare to see someone so universally liked and respected. Despite that, he stays grounded and humble. I believe that is something we must all emulate.
Kamal Haasan
Kamal sir, what an actor! I grew up on his films. When I was young, I would emulate his mannerisms and his dressing style perfectly. As an actor, I could see much so more in my idol. I could see how much work he puts in, the toll it takes on his body and mind. You can admire someone, but only when you start doing the same work, do you see those nuances. The way he continues to experiment with films is so inspiring.
Last year alone, he made two films. For a guy who is 50 years old, that is something, don’t you think? This is not an easy field to be in when you are in your twenties. Imagine what it does to you when you’re 50. And yet, Kamal sir keeps on creating. What dedication!
Aamir Khan
Like Kamal sir, Aamir is one of the greats in the industry. We are lucky to be in a place and time where we get to see the effect of his films first hand on this generation. I also love the way he has given back to society through his Satyameva Jayate program. That’s one of the reasons why I push myself to contribute more and more to improving our society. He is a very ethical actor and person. It shines through and inspires people to be like him.
Vikram
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The one thing you are guaranteed to get, if you’re directing Vikram, is dedication, dedication, and dedication. The amount of hard work he puts in is amazing to watch. It was painful to watch when he lost that much weight for his character (Koonan) in I. But you have to admire the mental strength that took him to that place. I watch his films as a fan now. I am not sure I would be able to do even half the work he did for I. Vikram just has so much patience. More than me, really.
Rajinikanth
Who is not inspired by the superstar? His story was drilled into me as a child. He was an example of perseverance and dedication, and also a symbol of hope. Fairy tales come true. That’s what I took away from his story.
They all say that there is only one true ‘Superstar’. And that is Rajini sir.
*****