I love my association with Karnataka, says Dattani

Mumbai, April 20 (IANS) Sammir Dattani, better known as Dhyaan in Kannada, says he is not unhappy with his association with Kannada films.

"People have made this false accusation against me. I would like to mention here again that I love my association with Karnataka and am proud of my work and success I have achieved there," Sammir told IANS.

"Whatever little I am today is thanks to my career in Kannada and the love and appreciation of the people of Karnataka. This is where I started from and I have been lucky to taste super-success," he added.

Bangalore is like a second home to him. "If it was not for my strong roots and large family in Mumbai, I would have probably shifted to Bangalore by now."

Recently he celebrated the silver jubilee of his hit film "Amruthadhare" directed by Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar, which is now being re-made in Telugu.

"We shot portions of the film for 10-12 days in Hyderabad. Ramya and I had lots of fun doing the film again. Old friend and new language... it was quite an experience," Sammir told IANS.

Excerpts from the interview:

"Amruthadhare" is your third hit in Kannada, how was the Silver Jubilee function last week?

Yeah "Amruthadhare" is my third hit film. The function was very well organised. I particularly loved the making of the film that they screened at the event for the first time because it took me back to all lovely and some extremely challenging moments that we faced during the making of the film. All in all a great feeling, a fun function and I got a lovely memento to take back home and preserve for life.

It was your second film with director Nagathihalli?

It is always a great feeling when a director that you have worked with repeats you. It shows your work and your work ethics are appreciated.

Nagathihalli sir was the one to introduce me. I shall be indebted to him for this always. We share a great comfort level. With our second film as a team also completing 25 weeks there will be added pressure when we work together again due to the mammoth expectations of the audiences and the industry.

So any plans of working together again soon?

Yes, of course, the expectations are not going to stop us but make us work harder. We are already discussing our next film in Kannada together and it will happen very soon. We will be finalising things by the end of this year.

It feels great to have family-like relations with people you work. Then you enjoy the success even better. It reminds me of Mr. Manmohan Desai and Mr. Amitabh Bachchan's winning combination of the 80's. I wish Nagathihalli sir and myself can create such milestones in Kannada... it would be very cool.

Speaking of Amitabh, his presence in "Amruthadhare" created quite a stir.

Yes, it was of course a great favour done by Mr. Bachchan. It's his only non-Hindi film so far. This is one reason "Amruthadhare" has been dear to me from the beginning. It's not every day that you get to share screen space with a legend like Mr. Bachchan.

Whatever little I am today is thanks to my career in Kannada and the love and appreciation of the people of Karnataka. This is where I started from and I have been lucky to tasted super-success.

I love the people here and I am definitely here to stay. Irrespective of how my Hindi career shapes up, my association with Kannada will continue forever. Bangalore is like second home to me. If it was not for my strong roots and large family in Mumbai, I would have probably shifted to Bangalore by now.

Then why is there a feeling among the industry and press that you are not proud of your association with Kannada?

People have made this false accusation against me. I would like to mention here again that I love my association with Karnataka and am proud of my work and success I have achieved there. Tell me if I was shy about my association with Kannada why would I proudly hold screenings of "Amruthadhare" in Mumbai and invite prominent personalities from the Hindi film fraternity?

(I have done that for three of my Kannada films). Why would I take help from my friends in the Hindi industry and convince the greatest actor of our times Mr. Amitabh Bachchan to make an appearance in my Kannada film.

Ok, talking about happier things, "Amruthadhare" will be releasing in Telugu?

Yes, the rights were bought by a prominent banner in Telugu and we shot portions of the film for 10-12 days in Hyderabad. Ramya and I had lots of fun doing the film again. Old friend and new language... it was quite an experience. It will be positioned like any other mainstream Telugu film. I am keen to see how the Telugu audiences react to this passionate and intense love story. This remake is being done very professionally. I am confident the outcome would be positive.

What other news about your Kannada career?

Well, after the success of "Amruthadhare", as expected I am flooded with offers but have not started any new film yet. That's because I am busy with my Hindi commitments. Secondly, I have had a fairly good track record in Kannada, four films in the past five years out of which three have been blockbuster hits.

So, I would like to take it slowly and continue with this level of success. I will sign a film when I am totally convinced and happy about the project at all levels. I would be starting my next Kannada project around mid-year and would be comfortable talking more about it only then.

What about your upcoming Kannada release "Jackpot"?

That's an out-and-out comedy film and quite a unique script. Let's see how the audiences accept it because it is very different. But it is not just my release. In fact, I am playing an important part in the ensemble piece.

It is a comedy film with lots of characters and mine is one important character among them. It also has Sudeep, Sunil Rao and others contributing to the story.

Enough about Dhyaan, let's talk about Sammir.

Well I am busy with three films in Hindi. I am part of the much talked about and anticipated film by Madhur Bhandarkar "Corporate" to be released in July. Though I am a small part of this ensemble piece it's an honour to be part of Madhur's film.

My next film is "Marathon" which is a very touching and inspiring film on sports. I have a very, very challenging role to portray in this one and am very anxious about the reactions I will get.

Then there is a third one titled "Mukhbir" which is directed by Mr. Mani Shanker and produced by Mr. Sudeep Rambhotla of Colorchips Entertainment. It's an awesome spy thriller with me in an author-backed role.

It's a privilege to have managed to get a film like this so early in my career. It has also given me the opportunity to work with senior actors like Om Puri, Suniel Shetty, Sushant Singh, Rahul Dev. With this film my South connection continues. The director and producer are Hyderabad-based and most of the film too is being shot there. Maybe I was destined to be born in South India but landed up in Mumbai by mistake...

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