For some unexplained reason, Siddharth has always preferred going for the new director. It has helped him and failed him, on-again and off-again. (For such a hero of undeclared love for debut directors, it is a paradox that he debuted as an actor in a Mani Ratnam film).

Prabhu Deva (Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana) made him a star to reckon with. The Tamil mind, to say the least, made Sid look like the next best one after Mahesh in romantic films. Bhaskar too made Sid look like a Kamal Hassan (at least for actress Jayasudha) for some days. (It is not our case that Sid is a brilliant actor; but his Bommarillu act remains his best till date).

Unfortunately, every other debutante made our hero look like a desperate performer who is unable to come out of the B hangover. Sivakumar (Chukkallo Chandrudu), Dolly (Konchem Ishtam Konchem Kashtam), Anand Ranga (Oye!), Rambabu (Bava), Surya Prakash (Anaganaga Oka Dheerudu), Jayendra (180), to name a few, have done no good to Sid.

Venu Sriram’s Oh My Friend, it is hoped, will be a different affair. Wait! We trust Dil Raju, not Sid. Forgive us, Sid.