Arvind Swamy's first straight Telugu movie 'Dhruva' has made him one of the most talked-about supporting actors in a long time. In this exclusive interview to IndiaGlitz, he talks about why he no longer consumes alcohol, why he thinks an actor has to know the language, why collapsing dialogues into an expression is important, so on and so forth.

You look like a sinless person. Isn't it ironical that you are receiving greater applause for playing a villain in 'Dhruva' than when you played a saintly character in 'Kadali'?

The applause is always for the role, not for good or bad role. I have received applause for playing many positive characters in the past. I am just happy that I receive applause for my acting, whether it's for positive or negative characters.

Did you accept 'Kadali' because Mani Ratnam is the director?

Firstly, it's a role I had not played before; so, that was something interesting any way. Secondly, I would never lose an opportunity to work with Mr. Mani Ratnam. I have always learned so many different things whenever I worked with him. He is a great inspiration. Even after all these years, I learn something new whenever I meet him.

You have described yourself as an agnostic. Are you that by nature or nurture?

It cannot be by nature. These things of belief and non-belief are because of the environment. You are not born with a belief. Beliefs are based on your life experiences, on what appeals to you, on what makes sense to each individual. So, it's always nurture.

Did you become an agnostic after you met with that paralyzing accident in 2006? Or, had you always been one? Also, while you solved maths puzzles and played chess during the recuperation period in 2006, you don't seem to have read motivational books.

I have been an agnostic right from my childhood. I don't read self-help books. Most of the books that I read are biographies, history-based, books based on travel experiences, culture, etc. I don't read much fiction also.

Your daughter Adhira has designed your costumes in 'Dhruva'. What is she up to in future?

She is not a costume designer. She only helped me for this film. I don't want to talk about my children. They are happy. I design my costumes for most of my films, but in the case of 'Dhruva', I thought let me use her ideas just to get some change.

Just as you have sprung up a surprise by playing a negative role, are you going to do something surprising in your business line as well?

Within our community, we come up with a lot of surprising things any way. We do come up with new ideas that can help our customers.

You have said that you no longer drink alcohol. When and why did you stop consuming it? What advice would you give those who want to give up alcohol?

It's just like for the last few years, my focus has been on health and fitness. Consuming alcohol occasionally is fine. I am not a preacher; whatever they want to do, they are free to do. They are adults who can make their choices. I am not a preacher; I am not here to say what is good or bad. I made that comment on Twitter when someone asked me as to which drink I prefer.

What do you want to be called as - intelligent person or handsome man?

I don't think of myself as a good-looking person. I just want to be called a nice person. Looking handsome is not an achievement.

You once said that you would like to do things that scare you. Did the character in 'Dhruva' scare you, which is why you did it?

What I meant to say was, if something is very easy to do, I won't do it. I like to do something that's challenging, something I am not sure how it's done. To me, it's always interesting to figure it out and put the effort.

Don't you think that the hero in 'Dhruva' writing down his findings on the small slips gave the villain an opportunity to find out his plans?

Really? It's his private space. I think Siddharth Abhimanyu knows who is that person. He is just curious to know more about the one after him. That's why he goes to his place. Even when he goes to the hospital, he is not there to kill him. There is a scene where he says that he is learning a lot about himself and the mistakes he had been making. (To bring that out was the idea).

Was it boring to play the same character which you played in 'Thani Oruvan' in 'Dhruva'?

The first time when I played, it was more interesting because I was trying to create something new. That said, it's always a pleasure to portray Siddharth Abhimanyu in any language.

Is there any Telugu actor with whom you want to work?

I just like working on good scripts. I am not aspiring to work with any.

Are you an introvertive person as people say?

Most of the time, I am an introvert, but there are occasions when I am an extrovert. That's why I described myself as an ambivert.

Why do you think is it essential for an actor know the language?

Because the focus then wouldn't be on remembering the lines whose meaning you don't know. Unless you know the language, it's not easy to modulate. The way you speak should come as a free flow. Some people do it very well, but I am very conscious of the lines.

You have said that there were cases when you collapsed five lines into an expression doing Siddharth Abhimanyu. Could you describe one such scene from 'Dhruva' where you did that?

I don't remember exactly. I just tried to express it without dialogues to give the same effect. An actor got to figure out what the script writer is saying. When you read a book and it's written that it's a palatial house, etc, all that description doesn't have to be there in a film. In a film y