He learnt his trade from the famed Lanka Satyanand, who taught acting to several star actors in the Telugu film industry including Pawan Kalyan, Mahesh Babu, Prabhas and several others. His debut movie, a bilingual venture in Kannada and Telugu was directed by Puri Jagannath.
Actor Ishan, who made a power-packed action entry into films with Rogue is back, after a short break. His next film in Telugu is being directed by Vijay Kumar. Kinda goes to the floors in August and it will be followed by a Kannada project, to be directed by a leading Sandalwood director. After putting up an impressive show in Rogue irrespective of its outcome, the actor received positive reviews for his acting skills, chiselled body and great looks.
Ishan speaks to Bengaluru Chronicle on his return and also, reveals some lesser known facts about himself.
“It was an amazing experience to work with one of the greatest in the industry. Despite the commercial outcome of the movie, there were so many positives from Rogue which was directed by Puri Jagannath Sir. Though my family is closely connected with the film industry, both in Telugu and Kannada, I really worked hard for over three years in the industry before taking up acting,” says Ishan.
He further revealed that though his first film lacked a strong subject, he had waited for sometime to choose on his second film with a mix of commercial masala, including love, family drama, emotion and action.
“Not many are aware that before my debut movie as a hero, I acted in one of our productions — Shivam starring Real Star Upendra. Apart from working as an assistant director, I did a cameo as a supporting character. In fact, during the shooting of the movie, I did my screen test, and only when the makers expressed that I could take up acting, I went ahead and started learning acting from Satyananda Sir,” he says.
Ishan hopes to stick to the one language-one film equation, and wants to avoid bilingual projects. “Born and brought up in Karnataka, I feel more comfortable acting in Kannada. With so many leading star directors and newcomers approaching me for my next venture, I had to ensure that I return with a complete entertainer. I have one lined up for Kannada, which will start after my Telugu venture completes. It will be directed by a leading director who is presently busy with another big project. I will soon reveal more about it,” he adds.
His two films would have started shooting by now if not for the elections. But are now back on track. His uncle CR Manohar who is a producer contested elections in the recently held Assembly polls.
“We have a mix of all professions in the family, while one is a professional doctor, there is a government officer, a politician, a film producer and my father is a farmer. We as a family extended support to my uncle, and it was a unique experience campaigning for polls,” he wraps up.
