After directing, Vineeth Kumar is back as an actor in 'Vegam'

Kochi: Vineeth Kumar, back on screen after a break, plays the lead role in Vegam, a thriller directed by Anil Kumar. It has him playing a character that is very different from the ones that he has played earlier and talking about the project, Vineeth says, “I play a very bold character in the movie. I personally feel that my full potential as an actor has been brought out in this role.” The light-eyed actor was seen on the silver screen after a brief hiatus in the film Chapters.

Wondering about Vineeth’s absence from the silver screen? Vineeth reveals a very well-kept secret: “For the past four years, I have been directing ad films and have also directed a music video titled Mazha. I enjoy making ad films and I find a thrill in using a very short time frame to communicate an idea. I personally feel that through the process of directing an ad film, I am also learning and understanding the process of filmmaking too.”

Vineeth admits to taking a deliberate break from films and shares his reasons for doing so. “Cinema has a habit of typecasting you! You should take a break and not accept such roles. That is why I took a deliberate break and came back through a different role in Chapters. There is a different dimension to my character in the film.” Quizzed about a break being detrimental to an actor on account of the influx of newcomers, Vineeth maintains that there is space for every actor in the industry.

Vineeth is a very good trained classical dancer and has been a definite presence at several stage shows. Explaining his fondness for live shows, he says, “I did stage shows for financial security and I enjoyed dancing too. More than the body flowing to a rhythm, it is when the mind also dances that there is joy and enjoyment! As long as I can dance, I will continue to do shows.”

Basically a classical dancer, Vineeth enjoys performing classical, western and other contemporary dances. But he has cut down on his stage shows of late. He says, “I am being very selective about my shows, preferring to work only with the people I am comfortable with or performing the dance forms I enjoy. I used to do shows for money but not anymore!”