Even to this day people remember R K Narayan's Malgudi Days through a small boy and that boy is Swami. Swami i.e., Master Manjunath has grown up now and is working in a software company in Bangalore. Here is an exclusive interview with Master Manju (as he is fondly called) where he told Indiainfo.com about life beyond Swami.

Had R K Narayan come to the sets while filming Swami and Friends?

He had come there a couple of times. More than all the awards I got for the serial, it is his compliment I cherish the most...he said that I resembled the Swami he visualized when he wrote the book, that's my real award.

You spoke Hindi so well in the Serial Malgudi Days, did you know the language well before itself?

No, I didn't even know a little, but it was a team effort, Shankar Nag, Arundati Nag and others helped me a lot. I have never made so much of an effort, physically or mentally, as I did for Malgudi Days.

Which work of R K Narayan is your favourite?

Till date I haven't read any of his books. But shooting for Malgudi Days gave me a inside perspective of R K Narayan.

Did you like the character of Swami?

More than Swami I liked the character of Naga, I had to act with Shankar Nag and we shot in the forest with real animals. It was an unforgettable experience.

People still remember you as a child artist, don't you have any plans of acting now?

I have been getting offers, but none of them are quality roles. There is a gap between the child artist Manju and now the grown-up Manju. Right now I am concentrating on my career.

What are you doing now?

I am currently working for onlinebangalore.com, I am leaving this place and I will be joining DCF software soon.

Are you a software engineer?

No, I am the non-technical coordinator and I take care of the advertising part of the company.

What have you studied?

I am an Art's Graduate and I am currently pursuing a Masters course in Sociology at the Bangalore University.

How should your dream character be?

It should be refreshingly new and challenging.

Haven't you acted in any Kannada TV serials?

I have directed two serials for DD 9 but I haven't acted in any of them.

Why didn't you continue acting?

As I said earlier, I got busy with studies and career.

How many awards have you won for role asSwami?

I received one National Award and six international awards

Any other awards as a child artist?

I received an award for Parameshe Prema Prasanga and also got a Tarangini award and some other awards.

Who is your Godfather in the Kannada film industry?

There's no one like that, but I have learnt a lot from Ambarish, Shankar Nag and Ravi Chandran.

Among these, didn't Shankar Nag promote you?

I have acted mostly in Shankar Nag's films. I was personally very close to Shankar Nag and shared an excellent rapport with him. Therefore I learnt a lot from him.

How did you get a chance to act in Hindi films?

After Swami, I got a chance to act in Agnipat. In the film I played the role of Amitabh as a child. I have also acted in Utsav, Benam Badshah, and Vishwathma. I have also acted in a Telugu film called Swati Kiranam.

So totally how many films have you acted in?

68

When do you plan to comeback?

I don't know.