This Article is From Apr 19, 2016

Arvind Swamy, Reluctant Actor, Found Success 'Stifling'

Arvind Swamy, Reluctant Actor, Found Success 'Stifling'

Arvind Swamy in a still from Bombay

Highlights

  • Arvind Swamy shot to fame with films like Roja and Bombay
  • Arvind Swamy revealed he was in his 20s when he got his break in films
  • Arvind will next be seen on the silver screen in Dear Dad
Mumbai: Actor Arvind Swamy, who becamepopular with films like Bombay and Roja in 1990s, on Monday said he had been a reluctant actor who grew uncomfortable withthe attention he started getting due to his stardom.

Arvind was introduced as an actor by filmmaker ManiRatnam with 1991's Thalapathi. The actor rose toprominence with the success of Roja (1992), and Bombay in 1995.

The actor, whose last Hindi film was Raja Ko Rani SePyaar Ho Gaya in 2000, took a sabbatical and spent a decade trying his hand at business.

"I never wanted to be an actor. I was a reluctant actorbut the process of making those films was what I reallyenjoyed. The attention that came with success was somethingwhich made me very uncomfortable. I was not prepared for it, Iwas not ready. I was in my early twenties," Arvind told the press.

The actor said though he enjoyed the success, he wasunprepared with the kind of attention stardom brought to him."I enjoyed the success I didn't enjoy the attention.

It's like 'I want you to see my films but leave me alone'. Ifyou think all your life that you want to be a star, want toperform, then that is something you would enjoy. But I wasvery unprepared for what came my way," he said.

Arvind said it was 'very stifling' for him."If I came out and saw 100 people standing, it wouldmake some people happy and proud or make some people run backto their house. I belong to the second category," he added.

Arvind returned to full-fledged acting with ManiRatnam's 2013 film Kadal. The actor will next be seen in the Hindi film Dear Dad.

The actor insists he respected stardom but didn't knowhow to deal with it and hence needed some time off.
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