The munda who was a machchi

This cute-as-hell model is making his way into an industry that has a problem with cute-lookers. for now, he's doing just fine!

This cute-as-hell model is making his way into an industry that has a problem with cute-lookers. for now, he's doing just fine!

You've seen him in several ads, you've seen him on the Limelite promos all over the city and even though most of us think of him as a recognisable face, we don't know who he is. He's a model who has always mattered but has hardly ever been spoken about.

Ganesh Venkataraman, a thoroughbred Tamil peiyyen from Mumbai, burst onto the modeling scene in 2003. With an amazing start at Gladrags, which incidentally he won and an even more impressive stint at Mr World the following year, this dimple-faced hunk made it big in a matter of just a few years. Several TVCs later he debuted in The Angrez, a DVD hit that came out of Hyderabad. Remember the NRI with an accent?

It surely was a long way to have come, considering Ganesh was actually an engineer working with Patni computer systems in Mumbai.

He'd always had a special place for theatre and while in Mumbai, he worked with the Renaissance theatre company, where Rita Ganguly, the director, mentored him. His family trusted his decisions and always encouraged him to test new waters. What more could he have asked for!

The ads and his one film worked brilliantly for his career and offers came pouring in. He was first seen on the sci-fi Antariksh, one of India's first space-exploration series in Hindi and within no time he also starred in Mayavi, India's first 3D serial, produced by GV films in Tamil. Mayavi did brilliantly with the audience and was critically appreciated. It also won the special jury award at the Seoul Drama Awards in 2006.

The following year however proved to be his luckiest. While holidaying in Mumbai, he heard about the auditions for director Radhamohan's new film. Now any Tamilian worth his salt, would have been excited about that, considering Mozhi, Radhamohan's previous blockbuster had just released and was riding the waves of success and appreciation. Ganesh decided to give it a shot and auditioned. He wanted this audition to work so much that he decided to do anything to get the role. The next day, with fate on his side, he walked away with the role and he deserved it. Ganesh's first mainstream movie role would be of a Punjabi boy in a Tamil movie called Abhiyum Naanum. How ironic!

The rest is history. Abhiyum Naanum did fabulously at the box office and Ganesh was well appreciated for his role. The movie was consecutively made into Telugu as Aakashamantha and did even better. There are plans for remaking it in Kannada too.

While still reeling under the success of this film, Ganesh was offered the role for Unnaipol Oruvan, Kamal Hassan's home banner's remake of A Wednesday. Ganesh has been roped in to play the role that Jimmy Shergill assayed in the original. The model has gone through a complete makeover to play the role and is more than excited about it. He actually underwent police training in Pune, to portray his character as realistically as possible.

"I take my job as an actor very seriously and will go to any extent to get it right," he says.

Ganesh is an actor that today's day and age needs. He's broken the stereotype and proven that models can act and that with hard work and determination anyone can achieve anything. We're looking forward to seeing him in Unnaipol Oruvan, a release that's slated for this Friday.

Check out the music that released a while ago and is already doing very well at the top of the charts.

Punjabi Munda	ATSu00a0Officer

Ganesh speaks

How I got my first role:
"I really wanted to bag that role in Abhiyum Naanum and had already heard that they were looking for someone who could fit the role of a Punjabi munda. I decided to impress them and in true Mariln Brando style I prepared for the role. Being around Punjabis helped and my fluency in Hindi worked to my benefit. I asked a Sardar friend to lend me his khalsa and dress me up. I practised the Punjabi accent all night and the next day decided to pull a fast one on Radhamohan and his team. I walked in this masquerade and acted like a true-blue Punjabi who had heard about the role. Once I realised they were convinced about my authenticity, I broke the farce and guess what, I got the role!"

Preparing for his role in Unnaipol Oruvan:
"I wanted to get an insight into how the whole thing works, so I decided to undergo training. I represent someone who works for the ATS (Anti-Terrorist-Sqaud) so I needed to build up my stamina and mass. I underwent combat training and loads of other exercises to fit the character."

Quirky five

Romantic roles?
Why not? I am a model, the looks would fit right in, no?

Fan mail?
I do reply whenever I do get the time. It feels nice to know someone out there actually thinks you're worth writing something to.

Modelling or films?
Modelling is still my bread and butter and even though films might come and go, I'm sure I'll keep going up the brand representation race.

Female attention?
As long as it is for talent, of course. Hey! I'm a model, I know what they're looking at.

Male attention?
I don't discriminate. Period.