After heaping laurels as a lead comedian, actor Santhanam launched himself as a lead hero with the film Vallavanukku Pullum Aayudham' which was also produced by him last year. Now the man who made inroads into films after a successful stint in small screen spoof show Lollu Sabha' has successfully released his second film as a the lead hero and production venture Inime Ippadithan' surrounded by huge expectations.

While the film has been well received and running to packed houses in its first week of release, the young actor had a detailed chat with the Indiaglitz correspondent. Excerpts:

After doing lead comedian role you have now become a hero and you have to romance heroines in these films.In Inime Ippadithan' you had to romance two heroines. How did you feel before taking it up?

I was fearing about dance and romance sequences when I transformed as a hero. Especially in Inime Ippadithan' film needed more romance scenes. We maintained comical touch in romance portions. I asked the director that the romantic portions should not be of Aravindsamy' kind (where the hero will have to look and behave smart and lovable).. In a particular scene with a heroine I will tell that kissing is very casual in English films and they kiss even in a house where a death has occurred. But here kiss is very rare. Such kind of comedy was maintained in all the romance scenes with both the heroines.

What made you decide to become a lead hero?

Nowadays comedy films are doing well at the box office. Even horror films have comedy. In other films I appear in 60 out of 63 scenes. So I don't find any big difference between being a lead comedian and lead hero. The only thing I ensure is to retain comedy throughout the film.

Lead Hero, solo comedian- which is tougher?

Doing comedy is tougher than being a hero.Heroes will get support from other actors like Mother sentiment' and romance with heroines. But as a comedian you have to make people laugh with every scene.

What are the efforts you put to avoid repetition in you comedies?

Even while giving interviews we have to give answers to the same questions in different words. Otherwise, people will complain that I speak the same thing again and again. Thanks to the impact of social media, whatever you speak reaches the people very soon. You have to do homework and update yourself before delivering. That is the key to avoid repetition.

The essence of Inime Ippadithan' is that girls' hesitation to convey their love is the reason for all problems. How convinced are you in this? Isn't the problem of not being expressive common to both genders?

Most women won't tell what they feel in open. Even bold women have a girly thing in them and they move everything slowly Guys will always speak a lot . Even for your one line question I am giving one page answer We have seen such things in real life and that's what we have kept in the scene. And it denotes that particular character only. Not girls in general.

Vidyullekha in this film also?

After two hours of comedy, there was a sequence of sentiment and serious scenes in the film. The director wanted a comical break before that to prepare the audience for the seriousness that will follow in the next few scenes. We did not want to use a new girl there . That's how Vidyullekha came in for that ten minute sequence.

What's your take on films with a tragic end?

This film even had a serious end. Many girls called me and cried while speaking about that scene. Messages have to be conveyed in a serious tone and it is good to have such films.

That you have become a hero, will you still accept lead comedian offers coming your way?

Acting is my profession. I will accept any role, be it a comedian or villain, if I liked it.

Will you produce films with others in lead roles?

My plan is to produce small budget films. First, I wanted to stabilize my production company and that's why I myself starred in them. I will produce films that do not have me in the lead role. You can expect good films in all genres from my production company.

In your decade long career have you felt that you have missed working in a film or a role?

I have not felt like that about any film or a role. So far I have not worked with Kamal sir. That's the only thing I miss.

You have not spoken much about your family?

I don't want to mingle my family and the media. You have come to interview only Santhanam, a hero or a comedian, not a family man. A doctor never brings his wife to operation theatre unless she is a doctor.

How would your wife react when she watches you romancing on-screen?

My TV career had started before I got married. So she knows that this is only reel and not real.

What difference you find between Manmadhan' Santhanam and Inime

Ippadithan' Santhanam?

I have been keeping myself updated with the changing trends. I have learnt one thing or another from every film I have worked. In that way I have changed a lot.

What's your take on immediate update culture in social media?

We have to be very careful and clear in what we speak and do. We have to be consistent in our words and actions otherwise we will be trolled.

How do you react to trolls?

I don't often visit social media and a company manages my pages. I reply only to those queries that are very essential. I am full with work