Take it easy

He set a few hearts aflutter in `Prema Desam'. And came into his own in Telugu cine world. On the sets of `Lahiri, lahiri, lahiri lo', when Suresh Krishnamoorthy met him, the friendly Vineet was in his usual cool, relaxed self.

WHAT'S THE first thing that strikes you of this youngster from Tellicherry in Kerala with the typical `Mallu' accent? Despite a `Sarigamalu', `Priyuralu', the stupendous hit `Prema Desam', `Aaro Pranam', `Rukmini' and other films, people still mistake him for young hero Tarun.

But does Vineet mind this reference to a co-star? Nope. Absolutely not, considering that ego starts ticking once the feeling dawns on the person that people have failed to recognise a `star'! "Tarun is Tarun and Vineet is Vineet", he says, in his disarming smile. He first came into the film firmament in 1985 in `Idanilangal', a Malayalam hit, directed by I.V. Sasi.

This commerce graduate from the New College, Chennai, is a cool customer, as cool as cucumber, given the heat the filmdom generates. Yeah, he does not bother much about anything and believes in giving the best shot to whatever he does. Some karma this! But he gets depressed too. Obviously when his films don't do that well. "But I get over it in about a week's time. After all, one has get on with life, ain't it?" he drawls.

Take this. Vineet is not only an accomplished actor but also a trained classical dancer. "If acting is my profession, Bharatnatyam is my passion", he says.

His latest film, `Ammayi Kosam', is due for release and he's keeping his fingers crossed. He is also working in two other productions - `Vedam', directed by Arjun in Tamil and `Lahiri, lahiri, lahiri lo' in Telugu, directed by Y.V.S. Chowdary.

Has the love bug bit him? "No. Only casual affairs and that too not with co-stars. Heroines are to work with, not to play around", he guffaws. "Life is beautiful, enjoy it. Love is divine, nourish it". Our hero heralds into another one-liner.

Though a reserved person by nature, Vineet takes little time to warm up. But mark this. He's very careful with his words. He relishes reading Jeffrey Archer and Sidney Sheldon. He's not fussy about food either. "Anything, veg or non-veg that is tasty will do for me."

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