I'm missing out working with the new generation as many go by my on-screen image: Sampath

Time of India

27-05-2025

The actor tells us that many young filmmakers tell him that Aaranya Kaandam, is what made them want to be in films.
Acting is where my passion, interest, and happiness lie,' shares actor Sampath as he sits down to chat with us about his defining films and what's next for him. The actor states that he keeps a low profile because he is media shy.
'I think my work should speak for itself. Marketing yourself is important, but you should be responsible about what you say and do as an actor,' he adds. Excerpts:
'IRRFAN KHAN WANTED TO REMAKE AARANYA KAANDAM IN HINDI AND PLAY MY ROLE'
The actor tells us that many young filmmakers tell him that Aaranya Kaandam, is what made them want to be in films. He reveals, 'For the aspiring filmmakers in their early 30s, Aaranya Kaandam is a bible.
Fahadh Faasil once told me, 'When my films weren't doing well, I went back to America. But then, I watched Aaranya Kaandam and thought there's still hope and came back'. I remember Sriram Raghavan called me after watching the film, and we spoke for 15-20 minutes about its nuances.
Even Irrfan Khan wanted to remake it in Hindi and play my role.'
'IT COMFORTS ME TO KNOW THAT I'M IN A POSITION TO SAY NO TO PROJECTS'
Sampath
informs us that he is quite content with the films he is offered and adds, 'I'm happy that I've reached a stage where I don't want to do everything that comes my way.
I'm happy when I sit back and tell myself, 'I said no to four or five projects this month.' It comforts me to know that I'm in a position to say no to projects and that I'm not desperate. Today, when I listen to a script, I know whether it makes sense for me.'
'I'VE BEEN ASKED IF IT WAS EASY TO TURN DOWN RAEES AS IT WAS AN SRK FILM'
Even though Sampath isn't against the idea of venturing into Bollywood, he says he is waiting for the right script to come his way.
'I speak Hindi well because I was born in the North. I'm clear that my first Hindi film should leave a mark. I don't want to do something just because it's in Hindi, and the calls I get from there aren't for significant roles. When I turned down Raees , I was asked if it was easy to do that as it was a Shah Rukh Khan film.
I replied, 'When I commit to a film, it should make a difference to me as an actor',' he shares.
'I ASKED JASON SANJAY IF HE IS BEING PRESSURED TO BECOME AN ACTOR BECAUSE OF WHOSE SON HE IS'
Up next, he will be seen in
Vijay
's son Jason Sanjay's directorial debut, Mysskin's Train and Phoenix , starring Vijay Sethupathi's son Surya.
'Sanjay and I had five sittings before I said OK to the film. He always came five minutes before the meetings started, and he was clear about what his story was. What we are shooting has not deviated from the script even by one per cent. I asked him if he is being pressured to become an actor because he is a popular star's son.
But he is very clear that he wants to be a director. Mysskin and I have been wanting to work together for a long time.
I wouldn't say I'm playing a massive role in Train , but it's important.'
The actor is also part of films with Vishwak Sen ( Funky ) and Sharwanand in Telugu, and Jeethu Joseph's Malayalam film Mirage .
'WHAT I DO ON SCREEN IS FOR A LIVING, BUT THAT'S NOT ME'
Sampath tells us that going by his onscreen antagonist characters, people develop a preconceived notion of how he is. He states, 'When my writing partner and I pitched a script in Telugu, those who heard it said they never expected such a script from me.
I have a certain image due to the negative roles I play, but the story I wrote didn't have a single fight. What I do on screen is for a living, but that's not me. People I've worked with have said, 'We didn't know you were easy to work with.
' The problem is that many go by my on-screen image, but that is not my reality. Maybe that is a reason I might be missing out working with the younger generation because they must be thinking, 'How would it be to work
'Raghuvaran told me to never feel bad about taking prompting'
Sampath shares the advice that he received from the late Raghuvaran.
'When I did Bheemaa (2008) with him, I saw how beautifully he would work around prompting. He told me to never feel bad about taking prompting. He said, 'After hearing the lines and before delivering it, there will be a splitsecond gap, and if you can keep your expressions right in that split second, the makers can't chop it off.' I have not gotten used to it,' he says.
'Credit for the success of my gay character in Goa should also go to Pa Ranjith'
Sampath considers Daniel, the gay character in Venkat Prabhu's Goa , to be the toughest he has done so far. 'Many people asked me why I was doing Goa . But as an actor, I've never tried to set an image for myself. I thought it was a challenging role, and jumped into it. It was tough dubbing for it. Pa Ranjith, who was Venkat Prabhu's assistant at the time, was also in the studio while I was dubbing. He would tell me to cut the bass in my voice, and it took me a few hours to crack that.
He told me the output would come out good if I did that, so I guess the credit should also go to Ranjith.'
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