Like the films he now wants to do, Venkatesh’s interview to the scribes was an equally chilled out and feel-good one. He thoroughly enjoyed answering the oft-repeated questions and in his characteristic style, answered some, smiled away for some and managed to avoid some. The true actor that he is, he didn’t fall for any leading questions and played his cards well by not disclosing where he was headed to celebrate his birthday. Yet, Venky had lots to talk about. Read on:

In a Pepe Jeans checked shirt and with his now famous style statement -- the diamond studded earring and the two chunky chains -- he looked every bit relaxed and at peace before going off for a holiday with family for his forthcoming birthday on December 13. No, he wouldn’t disclose how old he will be, he wouldn’t disclose where he was going. Yet, he was at his modest best. He was every bit forthcoming where he wanted and equally reticent where he thought the queries were spilling into his personal domain.

“I am not doing either Swamy Vivekananda or the Surya-starrer Deva.”

Despite repeated questions about what films he would now want to do, Venkatesh didn’t lose his cool and maintained till the very end that he did not have any set path in mind. “I take things as they come and respond when the time is right,” he says with his charismatic smile. But the volley of questions didn’t stop about whether he would do more action films. Again, Venkatesh didn’t play to the gallery. Instead, he chose to respond in his usual style that he himself was not very keen on doing action films without a strong script. He didn’t deny reading scripts, but emphasized that unless he was totally convinced, he wouldn’t sign a film. “My fans from the B, C centres want to see more of me in an out and out action film. But unless it’s a strong script like Bobbili Raja, there wouldn’t be any point. I would rather stick to feel-good films,” he says. Though Venkatesh confirmed that he was doing neither Swamy Vivekananda nor the remake of the Tamil film Deva.

He reiterated that giving a safe film was very important to him and disclosed that he saw it as his duty as he himself belonged to a producers’ family. “I have been around for nearly 20 years now and I can safely judge upto 60 per cent if a film would do well or not. I take up projects which are in keeping with my strengths. I think it’s very important to know one’s own limitations before venturing into a project,” he says. “He also confessed to the fact that he chooses to play the role of a technician while interacting with his co-stars and actresses. However, he refused to fall for routine by answering who his favourite heroine was. Instead, he remembered Maggie (Revathi) from Prema, Soundarya for Pavitrabandham and Sridevi for Kshana Kshanam.

“Bobbili Raja, Gharshana, Kshana Kshanam are ideal films which can have sequels.”

One thing that he chose to talk was about the remakes and sequels. He said he was game to doing sequels and thought Bobbili Raja, Gharshana and Kshana Kshanam were the ideal films as they had the right scripts to make a sequel for.

Venkatesh was however agitated about the lack of scripts and felt there was a serious dearth of good directors and writers. The multiple-hero scenario that is seen in the industry today has also resulted in the films getting distributed amongst them all, not leaving very many options for the senior heroes, he felt. “It works for other heroes who have a larger than life image to do films with average scripts. But it does not work for me and it has been proved time and again,” he says and adds that was the reason for him to insist on a bound script.

“I will be home after retirement and they will all come to me. And I would love to do serials. I can imagine myself with a couple of kids, their stories and the works.”

After doing his best to answer some tame questions, he turned very jovial and answered some fun questions about his forays into television and production. He once again confirmed that he would get into production, maybe by next year. He also said he was game to doing television serials once he retires as a hero. “I will be home after retirement and they will all come to me. And I would love to do serials. I can imagine myself with a couple of kids and their stories,” he guffaws. Yet again, he stops short of getting carried away and refuses to name the Hollywood series he would some day produce for television. “I will keep them to myself till I write them. Otherwise, they will be copied in no time,” he laughs.

Though it was meant to be his birthday special, he couldn’t have skipped answering the one question that is haunting the industry these days. Will or will not Chiranjeevi enter politics? And what was his take on it? But Venkatesh had no qualms in claiming his support to the mega star and wishing him well, though he felt a more formal answer could be expected only after Chiranjeevi chose to announce the entry himself.

“My best wishes are with him. But we have to wait for Chiranjeevi to formally announce his decision.”

In all, he looked pretty relaxed surrounded by books on his philosophical leanings and looked every bit set to take off for a family holiday and loads of fun with son Arjun.