I am in no hurry, just want to do good movies: Likith Shetty

Sandalwood is brimming with youngsters with high on energy, confidence and creativity in the last couple of years. We have several success stories in the recent times. Now, we have one more movie in the form Sankashta Kara Ganapathi which promises to bring such talents to light. 

Arjun Kumar's Sankashta Kara Ganapathi stars Likith Shetty and Shruti Goradia. The movie, which is releasing on July 27, has drawn the viewers' attention through its trailer. From Shivaraj Kumar to Sudeep, Duniya Vijay to Ganesh, many have spoken about the trailer and extended their wishes to the film. 

Likith Shetty, the film's hero, made time to speak about his journey, the movie and more with the International Business Times. Excerpts from the interview:

Please tell us about your journey.
My journey with entertainment industry begun as a host in Udaya TV way back in 2007. I worked there was three years and made my acting debut in multi-starrer Parole. I entered Tulu film industry with Oriyardori Asal, which ran for 300 days. I was also part of Preetham Gubbi's Nam Duniya Nam Style. Sankashta Kara Ganapathi marks my debut as a hero in Sandalwood.

Was it a tough journey?
It is definitely not an easy journey because offers do not come your way just like that. I should definitely thank people like Preetham Gubbi, HS Rajashekar and also to Udaya TV for giving me opportunities to work. But I did not depend alone on films for survival. I have kept myself busy in business in the last three years. I run multiple restaurants in Bengaluru.

How did you manage to take out time to work in Sankashta Kara Ganapathi when you run business?
Thankfully, I have a very supporting partner, Faizan, who is my childhood friend. We have been partners in everything that we do. With his support I could complete my film smoothly. Also I have very good friends circle who are helping me in everyway possible.

What is the film all about?
Sankashta Kara Ganapathi revolves around the person affected by Alien Hand Syndrome. It is a very rare disease where the person loses control over his hand (mostly, left hand) and experiences his limbs acting on its own. I play a struggling cartoonist in the light-hearted movie and when I am hit by the disease my life goes off track. The drama that unfold thereafter is the crux of the storyline.

Was there any special preparation for this role?
I met the patients affected by Alien Hand syndrome. During my meeting, I learnt how they act and behave. I heard their painful and stressful stories. I realised that there was no co-ordination between his hand and what he was saying. It looked funny initially, but I got emotionally connected to him gradually. Understanding their traits was the special preparation that I did for this role

Can you please tell us a few words about director Arjun Kumar and heroine Shruti Goradia.
We were on the project for three years. My friendship with Arjun and started from the days of TV show Oggarane Dabbi. While I was an anchor, he was an associate director. Cinema was our common interest. Once the idea of this film struck my mind I narrated it to him and we jointly wrote the script initially, but later he took the idea to the next level.

From the day one, I knew that he is a very hardworking man. He never looked for dignity of the work as he was willing to do any kind of job. Be it cleaning or lifting a cylinder, he never had qualms as long as the show runs smoothly. This movie would not have been possible without Arjun, who was the only one who believed in me. He is an open-minded person, who patiently listens to what others say. I feel I am very lucky to have worked with him. 

Coming to Shruti, she is a friend of Faizan. She was one among the five girls auditioned for the female lead. She did not have camera fear and had the sense of acting. She mouthed the dialogue to perfection and we brought her on board. I am sure people will not feel like her first movie when they see her on-screen.

As you have mentioned about writing scripts, one instantly gets a question whether you see yourself as a filmmaker in future.
I believe in going with the flow. It is all in the destiny. I am a man, who always crave for progress in whatever I do in my life. I keep thinking and revising my ideas. At this stage, I have four scripts ready with me, but I have not finalised anything yet. Earlier, I was in a situation where people coming to me before my film release to discuss about movies and vanish when the films failed at box office.

Today I am not in the urgency of doing films. I am in no hurry, just want to do good movies.