The balancing act

Ramamurthy is dressed in a purple tee with a flattering pair of denims. The effects of an early morning photo shoot show through the ruffled curls and the 8 pm shadow on his handsome face. But the smile doesn’t leave him—the 35-year-old is evidently excited about his Bollywood debut Shor. In this Ekta Kapoor production,he plays an NRI,Abhay,who falls in love with Mumbai on his visit to the city.

A second generation Indian in America,the actor feels a natural affinity towards the character. His story is one of the three parallel tracks and traces Abhay’s journey that begins in a Colaba penthouse and ends in the narrow alleys of the metropolis.

For a Hollywood actor—despite all warnings—the way the Indian film industry functions can come as a surprise. “Taking out your camera in a crowded Colaba street can cause a stir. And you can give your best shot but there will be times when you have to roll again just because someone from the crowd waved in the background. Now,that can irksome sometimes,but I understand that it is impossible to cordon off an entire area in a teeming metropolis like Mumbai,” Ramamurthy smiles as he downs his coffee.

From the sound of it,Ramamurthy comes across as a natural but he admits that he finds his career extremely tough. “I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone and am actively discouraging people,” he quips as we take a walk by the poolside. This comes as a surprise especially since Ramamurthy,who hails from a family of doctors,gave up a potential career in medicine for acting. “Well,it’s the rejection that I find tough to handle,” he explains. “I don’t get anywhere near the roles I want to do. I often go for auditions and find myself competing against actors who are more established. When the other guy bags the role I so badly want to be him.”

For now,Ramamurthy is glad that Bollywood,though patriarchal,hasn’t been hostile towards him. “Most actors here have the same last name,” he laughs. The actor is preparing himself for a parallel career in both Bollywood and Hollywood as his film A Wonderful Afterlife by Gurinder Chaddha premieres at the Sundance Festival next week. Meanwhile,he is waiting to hear from the producers of Heroes about the show’s fate.

Ramamurthy also turns out to be a photographer’s delight. Completely trusting our judgment,he follows instructions without any apprehension and the suave yet casual approach lends to his personality. No wonder he has a strong female following. The suggestion,however,makes him blush as he attempts to brush the topic aside: “Well,there is no way you can get me to say anything about it,” he laughs. “But let me tell you,good looks aren’t always an advantage.” Really?

Incredible India
Rajasthan
Indian Himalayas
Ranthambore National Park
Mumbai