This time around it was the noisy Juhu Barista. Thankfully I arrived a little before Ganesh did, chose a round corner table where our interview would get disturbed as little as possible. Didn’t want people crowding around or eves dropping, since this was a public place.
Ganesh is an ex Gladrags Man-hunt 2003 winner and was amongst the top five finalist of the Super Model contest held in Istanbul-Turkey in the same year. Just like many others he too is bitten by the glamour bug and is presently working towards making his mark in Bollywood.
Anyways here I was all set with my voice recorder and diary, a little more confident, well prepared, than the last time. Today was my third interview and guess am getting better and better at it.
For the past three days I have been fixing and canceling appointments with Ganesh. Either yours truly has been busy with office work or then the busy actor has his shoots to look into. But finally wanted this done with, that way I had the weekend to format and post my efforts.
There walked in a tall broad frame; a gently smiling Ganesh, clad in a white shirt with khaki pants. His eyes in search for the right table until I ushered him through the crowded coffee shop. He sat down; seemed apprehensive, a little nervous but soon a composed look transpired. A pair of thick eyebrows covering small shapely black eyes, a petit nose, proportionate lips and dimpled cheeks – all of this bound together by a well-defined jaw line. A head-to-toe model material. Of course everything hundred percent natural he claims.
We started off by throwing apologies at each other for our subsequent delays over the past three days. Talked a little about ourselves, our work, and the loud coffee shop due to which my mike had to undergo several adjustments on his shirt collar. Ganesh gladly conspired with the annoying surroundings, there was a certain unexpected sincerity within him.
My very first set of questions revolved around his pre-modeling days and what led him into entering the Manhunt contest. Ganesh comes from a middle class Tamilian family (he by no stretch of imagination looks a South-Indian). His upbringing emphasized on higher education which he pursued, and has excelled throughout his academic career. During his college days he actively participated in dramas/ramp shows which directed his focus towards modeling and acting. He even captained his college volley-ball team.
After completing his formal education, this software professional was employed by a reputed IT company, where he worked for nearly two years. His profession did not dampen his love for the glamour world, but made him compete for the Gladrags Man-hunt contest which he won. Besides the basic skin care, good looks, gym workouts, Ganesh believes that education, observation, presence of mind, portraying oneself as a perfect package and a certain X-factor led him to his victory. “It is within you” were his exact words.
Gladrags Manhunt advanced to the Super Model contest, where he made it until the top five. Preparation for this contest required Ganesh to take a sabbatical of 8 months, to which his firm gladly obliged. That’s when he made up his mind on a serious acting career as modeling is short-lived. His ambition further rooted when he gave-up a masters education in the United States over Bollywood glitterati.
Our conversation progressed to life after the Manhunt. Struggle and Hard work were his words! Winning the contest brought him to the modeling threshold but beyond that it seemed nothing. He still had to play it by the book without any shortcuts. Audition queues, testing of skills, comparison with new-comers – a never-ending battle! During this span, he did various commercials like Kajaria tiles, Dig jam suiting, Bajaj bikes, Kotak Mahindra Insurance etc. He also worked on his acting, dancing and voice modulation.
His first break was The Angrez, a cross-over film where Ganesh plays the lead role. A small budget (35 lakhs) movie revolving around two NRI’s, working for a call centre in Hyderabad. A dark comedy movie, doing well down south but awaits an April/May release in other Metro cities. Ganesh says he is a method actor who doesn’t mind giving suggestions but prefers to follow the director.
Well no interview would be complete without the inside gossip – like drugs, bisexuality and the casting couch of course. To which Ganesh diplomatically answered “I believe it exists”. That he has seen people at parties take drugs, seen people giving sexual favors for their first break, but he personally doesn’t indulge in it. Ganesh doesn’t smoke or drink. He feels politics exists in every other field/profession, and maybe it does cause of the increasing competition and pressure. According to him if there is a demand for stuff like this, then there are people supplying it. But at the end of the day, talent triumphs.
When asked about male model scope in India and internationally. Ganesh feels that the scope of work for a male model is much less than the female models. There are more female-oriented fashion shows as they get more priority and have a higher pay scale. Internationally, male models have capability but lack resources. Funding an international trip with lodging, running around agents to circulate portfolios etc. is not feasible. Hence success overseas depends on the mullah they have.
Currently Ganesh is working on a big project with G.V Production house. He refused to indulge anymore since he was bound by contract.
A genuine softness in his mannerisms, the man seemed sure about himself and his actions. Media excites the 42-32-39 well built tall new-comer, and he seems all out to make it big.
Though most of the replies were within the diplomatic bracket (the type you excel in after entering beauty pageants), I somehow actually believed him. On the other hand, if he has bluffed his answers than one thing is for sure that the young lad is one heck of an actor.
Here is wishing him all the best for his future in la la land of Bollywood.
ps…special thanks to Rohit (NaachGaana.com) for arranging the interview and the gang from Desicritics.org for the question list.
[...] Sakshi interviews Ganesh Venkatraman, winner of the 2003 Gladrags Manhunt. [...]
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