The oldest adage in the business; the bigger the star, the shorter the introduction. Pawan Kalyan. Kalyan's half an hour patter makes you laugh,think, shake your head, shrug your shoulders, edge forward as he takes you into an abstract and surreal world.
"What do you want me to talk about? Films? Nah, unless it's something out of the world." So he begins and as the barrage of information flows...farming, ecological bio diversity, mind mapping etc.... it reveals quite a bit about his personality.
For Kalyan, cinema is not just a tool of entertainment and information, but also a platform for soul searching. When he is not acting, he zooms off to Shankarpally where he's bought a huge chunk of land and retreats for days together amidst those exotic birds, flies, rabbits and snakes for company.
He says, "i planted all the saplings but this Bangaram schedule has distracted me a bit. Since the plants were all drying, i arranged something natural like rainwater harvesting and for other plants i collected plastic bottles, made a tiny hole and the drip helps it survive for longer periods. I strongly advocate conservation of water.
Can you imagine the future of india without plants and animals. Sparrows, a common sight in fields have become extinct thanks to the pesticides sprayed on the plants." He shifts gears to organic farming and before you take notes, the door creaks and the actor is summoned for a shot.
The next day while you gather threads from where it had been left, Kalyan finishes mugging his lines as his man friday leaves with the sheets of paper. He quotes Aristotle who said that humans are distinguished from animals because we can talk about abstractions like justice and injustice, whereas animals know only pain and joy.
He narrates an interesting incident, "when i was shooting for Johnny i was squatting involved in a confabulation when a small monkey came, just perched itself on my lap then hugged me for a while and left. I can't recall the feeling."
For someone who already has several feats and flops to his credit, trying to explore something new for the maverick actor is only natural. He quips, "Look, once the pack up is announced, i head straight for home. I don't party and i don't boast of a huge friend circle, i do something that gives me happiness.
" Writers and film critics treated him, at best, with kindly indulgence; and, at worst, with unremitting hostility. So has Kalyan mended fences with the media? His reaction to the query is tiring. There are moments of sheer epiphany when Kalyan says an idle man's brain is a devils workshop.
He adds, "It's a criminal waste to idle away your life. If you aren't sleeping you must keep yourself engaged doing something constructive. That is good also for people around you because you radiate positive vibes."
As the actor bends down to tie his shoe laces, the stage is getting ready for another classy act. While a number from the sets reverberate, Kalyan goes into an acoustic mood. He loves carnatic music, takes violin classes, and says "music helps me lose track of time.
" Life is one long song for the man at the moment. He is disturbed by a lady at the door, carrying a small girl in her arms, she's crying for help and immediate medical attention. Kalyan rushes them to the Rainbow hospital and on the other hand, calls his wife Renu and instructs her to attend on them.
His acts of kindness are not well documented but that's okay, he never wanted it. All Kalyan wants is a sound sleep at the end of the day, nothing more, nothing less.
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