Kannada audiences have accepted me: Dhyaan

Mumbai, Oct 5 (IANS) Bollywood-based hero Dhyaan aka Sammir Dattani, who is proving to be a hit in southern films, says he will continue doing Kannada movies for the rest of his life.

He is especially ecstatic over his "Mona Lisa" winning the Karnataka state award for the 2004-05 best film.

"I feel personally triumphant. It's like I've scored a sixer. 'Mona Lisa' was my second film. It ran for 100 days and more in major centres in Karnataka. Indrajit Lankesh, who directed the film and also won the best director state award for it, was wonderful to work with," Dhyaan told IANS in an interview.

"It was after the success of 'Mona Lisa' that I realised how warmly and lovingly the Kannada audiences have accepted me. It was after tasting the success of 'Mona Lisa' that I realised I love the Kannada industry and am here to stay and shall continue to do Kannada films for the rest of my life, irrespective of my Hindi career.

"I owe my career in Kannada to my first film director Nagathihalli Chandrasekhar for introducing me and now giving me another hit 'Amruthdhare', and to Lankesh for giving me 'Mona Lisa' and reinforcing my popularity in Kannada and giving me a new young image there."

Dhyaan gets nostalgic. "After 'Nanna Preethiya Hudugi' where I played a teenage boy, 'Mona Lisa' changed my image in Karnataka. For the first time, I had action scenes in a film. My fight on roller skates became a big rage...people loved it.

"I am glad Lankesh was able to use my USP as a roller skater very smartly in the film. I loved working with him...he is a young, stylish director with great commercial sensibility. I would love to be a part of all his films, and am sure we will work together again soon.

"Lankesh and I were supposed to do his first film 'Thuntata' together. We had met in Mumbai, he had loved me in 'Nanna Preethiya Hudugi'. But unfortunately due to date commitments to Rajshri productions for my first film, I could not be a part of 'Thuntata'.

"When he approached me for his third film, 'Mona Lisa', I had just completed my commitment with Rajshri and was sure I wanted to work with him in this one. I clearly remember we met at a cafe in Bandra. When I met him I was half sure I wanted to be a part of 'Mona Lisa'.

"We shot all around Bangalore and had a very memorable outdoor schedule in Bangkok and Phuket. The producer of the film, Dushyant, is a very fine human being and he's supported the film and all technicians blindly. In spite of being a producer he always had ready references and ideas about how he wants a song or action sequence to look. Sada, my co-star was very sweet and cooperative to work with and her father was always a source of constant entertainment in-between shots."

Dhyaan, now busy with his dual career in Mumbai and Bangalore, breaks into a fond smile at any mention of Bangalore.

"It was during the shooting of 'Mona Lisa' that Bangalore became like a second home to me. I made a good group of friends like Deepen, Mohit, Rohit and Rajat who now are like an extended family in Bangalore and always make me feel at home every time I go there."