HE’S looking leaner and meaner with his new haircut and toned appearance which he agrees, is for Ko. “The film is something I am really looking forward to. It will certainly be a big leap for me in my career graph since the expectations are high from this Jiiva - KV Anand combo.” Acting with Karthiga who debuts in Tamil and Piaa Bajpai, Jiiva plays an investigative photo journalist. Ask him about the experience and he says, “I was always interested in taking photos and even edited my own videos. I did a course in multi media before I became an actor. So when Anand sir gave me this 7D Canon camera for the film, I just grabbed the opportunity and clicked away to glory.” The homework he did for the role involved watching documentaries given by Anand to get the feel of the work of photo journalists and their body language.
Jiiva‘s current personal portfolio includes candid shots of kids with each picture speaking a thousand words. “I may have an exhibit someday,” he shrugs, clearly in love with his work. The music by Harris Jayaraj has taken them to exotic locales and the unit traveled to Norway for one song. “We had to trek for seven hours and return by 4 pm since the light was less. Once we even got caught in a blizzard! No one usually comes there to shoot and even people there were surprised! But the results are totally worth the trouble we took,” he reveals.
One terrifying experience during the shoot was jumping from the third floor of a building near Sowcarpet in Chennai. “There was a fire around me and I had to jump. It was the climax shot and I was really exhausted after a nearly round the clock shoot. I just did my shot and jumped and before I knew it, it was over. It was only later that I realized how dangerous it had been and the terrifying moments registered!”
Jiiva’s next is Shankar’s 3 Idiots and the actor is gung ho about the project. “I play the character played by Sharman Joshi in the original. Of course I am super excited since I loved the original and now I get to work on the project with Shankar sir!” concludes Jiiva.
IN LOVE WITH YOUR BEST FRIEND
The triangular love story of Ko however is nothing like his own. The actor got married to his childhood sweetheart of 16 years, Supriya, and now they have a son, the three month old Sparsh. So what was their love story like, we quiz him. He laughs, recalling the good old days, “Supriya and I were the best of friends right through school. I would tell her everything. But it was only friendship. Then she went abroad with her family for a few years and later to Delhi. It was then that I realized that I missed her and this was something more than friendship. We would keep talking on the phone and kept up our communication. Though there was a bit of opposition, later everything fell into place and we got married.” So does he miss the bachelor life since he got married at 23? “I do think sometimes that I could have gone back packing and stuff if I wasn’t married! Marriage does mean more responsibility. But then I feel happy that I have a beautiful wife and family. It makes me feel complete,” he grins.Supriya is the anchor of his life and Jiiva clearly enjoys the joys of having a family to come home to. “She understands my pressures as an actor and pampers me when I need it. Of course we do have our disagreements but then we make up.” Talking about fights that are part of every couple’s life Jiiva laughs, “She starts the fights and I just agree with her in the end! But then I take time to explain when she cools off. However I must admit that she is a really sensible person and helps me stay balanced and cool despite all my work pressures. Thanks to her I can be myself in my home. My home is my oasis.”
LIFE AS A DAD
So how is he coping with being a dad now? “I am trying now to be the hottest dad! This involves working out in the gym and a strict diet! Of course life has changed now. I spend as much time as I can at home with my kid and have mastered the art of changing diapers! In fact we both spend some quality time giving oil massages to Sparsh. We spend time shopping for the baby as well. It’s another dimension to my life. In fact I am trying to show my love more towards Supriya after she has turned mom. I was really tensed during her C section operation and everything that she has been through since. I think women are so brave!”
KEEPING THE ROMANCE ALIVE
This Valentine’s Day Jiiva hasn’t planned anything big as yet. But he avers, “There may be some diamond earrings on the cards! She loves giving me little gifts from time to time whereas I don’t believe in the gifting stuff. I prefer giving her money so that she can buy jewellery or clothes. She too prefers this. She is definitely more romantic than me, and surprises me constantly with gifts. I don’t keep money with me anyway and give her everything I have! But in the early days I remember buying her a really expensive Nokia cellphone. She gives me stuff like a Blackberry, a laptop or an iPod.” he shrugs.So how does the duo keep the romance alive after knowing each other for so long? “We go for long drives on the beach and holidays abroad. When I return from work I prefer spending time with her instead of friends. Right now we are building our house on the ECR and she is helping me with that. I turn up at home earlier than scheduled and surprise her at times. At home we prefer spending time together on our terrace or having a candlelight dinner even. And now, looking after the baby together has brought us even closer.”
