With his eyes set on becoming an actor, he literally carved his own career. On the path to becoming an actor, this Hassan boy commenced a journey which none of his family members were even aware of until one fine day they saw him on television! Actor Thandav Ram, a state level bodybuilding champion is now popular as Ramanna from the serial Jodi Hakki. His unique characteristics as an innocent and loving person has wooed the hearts of the Kannada audience. However, this is not his first venture. He has so far portrayed lead roles in serials like Krishna Rukmini, Balu Aparoopa Nam Jodi along with teleserials in Telugu and Malayalam and even a couple of movies in Kannada. He recollects his bodybuilding days and how he got into theatre before making it onto the small screen.
“Though I have done a couple of teleserials prior to Jodi Hakki, I am more recognised as Ramanna. Added to that, the audience tends to forget once a serial goes off air. It is only a few memorable characters that live on forever. And, Ramanna’s popularity is due to similar reasons. When the audience starts to imitate a character, it lives forever,” says Thandav Ram.
Born and brought up in Hassan city, he always wanted to become an actor though his family had different plans for him. “They wanted me to become a police officer or a government servant but I never liked the administrative field as my eyes were set on more creative pursuits. Once I finished my graduation, I hatched a plan and reached Mysuru to join Rangayana, doing theatre before the small screen,” he explains.
Thandav recalls facing opposition when he started bodybuilding too, “Even if I sneezed or coughed, my family would find an excuse to criticise me for my bodybuilding. But, I faced all criticism, and went onto win local and state level championships.”
About his plan to learn acting, he shares that back then there was a lot of scope for animation, “I landed in Mysuru telling my family I was there to learn animation. But no one knew I had joined Rangayana to learning acting. I enjoyed theatre and performing with the troupe. My family would ask when I would finish my animation course and start working. One fine day, they saw me on television. They were not angry, but shocked as I had not told them about it,” he says.
Even his entry into the small screen was due to his sheer perseverance and hardwork. “Nothing came easy. After a lot of rejection, insults and consistent effort, I earned my way on to the screen,” he adds.
He also made it into the Telugu and Malayalam TV industry. “I hardly knew the language but emotions are universal, so I was able to do justice. Most Kannada serial actors are chosen for their hard-working nature,” Thandav says.
The actor who was in Kannada movie Mareyalaare, has another movie Ondu Kathe Helala set for release soon. “I am looking forward to better opportunities. Despite all the hardwork, sometimes, we don’t get recognition. But the journey is on,” he signs off.
