Meet Hollywood's newest hero, Kevin Suman. Kevin who? Ahoy! It's our very own Suman. Unexpectedly landing in Hollywood as a hero, Suman decided to `be a Roman when in Rome' and so promptly prefixed Kevin to his name.

This hero of more than 150 films in Telugu, Tamil and Kannada has already completed shooting for his role in Chicago and other places last month and has returned to Tollywood to continue with Telugu films.

He had faced the camera for the first time in a Tamil film "Neechal Kullam" in 1976 and entered Telugu films with K Raghava's "Tarangini" in 1981, which became a big hit. More hits followed, including the recent "Annamayya" in which he dons the role of Lord Venkateshwara. But there have also been disappointing times for the martial arts expert.

India Syndicate met up with Suman, nay Kevin Suman, at the launch of his latest film "Pellam Vachchindi" at the Padmalaya studios recently and asked him:

What's this Hollywood buzz all about?

I was as surprised as you were when I was offered the hero's role in the film "Death and Taxies". We have had Indian actors doing character roles in Hollywood films or shooting for Hollywood films in India. But I was taken aback when the director of the film Kevin Mukherjee called me up to say that he wanted to cast me in his film as a hero. I jumped at the opportunity and have even prefixed Kevin to my name on the advice of the unit members.

What's your role in the film?

The film is about the spiritual world and I am an angel.

An angel? But weren't you painted the devil in a case that landed you in prison in 1985?

It was a fabricated case against me and the court struck it down; but nevertheless I had to spend six months in prison. It was a bad time for me. A black cloud it was. I do not wish anyone to go through such an experience.

You sure must have thought that was the end of your career...

I did, but I left it to God. It was a question of my reputation and credibility as the police who slapped the charges (that he was involved in a blue film racket) booked me under the Goondas Act. In jail, I kept thinking about what I should do when I am freed. Not only did the court strike down the case against me, but my career also picked up faster, and see where I have landed - in Hollywood.

Tell me about your Hollywood experience...

I thoroughly enjoyed my 16-day shooting there last month. Filmmaking is so different there. Unlike here, you have to memorise the entire script of your role in the film before the shooting begins. As you know, here your lines are shown to you just before the shooting of a scene. Hollywood culture simply shook me but I did memorise my lines. Acting is challenging in Hollywood.

I had to put on an accent with my English (laughs). I felt quite awkward the first day of shooting but subsequently I was at ease. I had to be thorough with my lines, as the voice is not dubbed after the film is shot. It happens simultaneously.

Apart from having to put on an accent, were there some other difficulties you encountered?

Oh yes! For a particular scene I had to travel in a cab. But all along as we drove, people used to hail the cab not knowing that a shooting was take place. Not only did I have to indicate to them that the cab wasn't for hire, I had to remember my memorised dialogues and continue with the shooting.

The Hollywood opportunity just knocked at your door. Are you doing any more films there?

I am. I will be shooting for another film with Kevin Mukherjee again and Chuck as directors. I play an Indian detective in the film. It's my kind of film as I'll get to demonstrate my martial arts too. The shooting of the film will begin in March next. I have an offer to do another film too. Hollywood is good but my aim is to act in as many languages as possible in India.

You indeed are going places, but were you not a reluctant entrant into films several years ago?

I wanted to become a pilot and my mother wanted me to become a doctor but I ended up an actor. I was indeed reluctant to get into films. I am a black belt in Karate and while I was practising one day, a producer who walked in said he wanted to cast me in a film. I literally asked him to get out! But I am grateful to a car mechanic called Kittu who ensured that I got into films.

Tell me more, how a car mechanic could be of such help?

He just wanted me to go out for lunch with him and there we happened to meet someone at the restaurant. It was only later I learnt that the man was a producer. I became angry with Kittu for trying to get me into films but they approached my parents who also said I should give films a try. I protested saying I could not act but those who offered me to cast me in a film thought I would make a good commercial hero. I agreed to do just one film but once I got into the stream there was no turning back.

I believe you had a quarrel with your neighbour over Vaasthu...

Belief in Vaasthu is secondary but the man was encroaching into my space by demolishing my wall. I had to take steps to stop it. Moreover the house I am staying is a rented one and my landlord himself had asked me to prevent the encroachment.

You have campaigned for the Telugu Desam Party in the recent elections. Why is it that the film industry always backs any Chief Minister irrespective of the party?

The film industry had backed Channa Reddy too and subsequently NTR and now Chandrababu Naidu...I must tell you that there is a section of the film industry, which is against Chandrababu Naidu. As for me I have lent my support to him and the party since he is doing good work. I don't expect anything for myself in return.

INDIA SYNDICATE

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