He is far removed from the looks of a conventional hero, so his appearance in the lead in the recently released film 'University' took everyone by surprise. Tall and lanky with his flowing shabby hair, Jeevan is not your typical hero. With training in acting from London and the U.S., Jeevan of course has the technique to back him, but not the conventional looks that one would associate with a typical Tamil hero. He has since bagged a lead role in Gautam's 'Kakka Kakka' - the Surya-Jyotika starrer. A tate-a-tete with the actor follows:

On his background: Dad is an industrialist, and I'm one of the three siblings. My brother is working in a French Bank in New York, and my sister is in Dubai. It's a business family, and I'm the first one to venture into cinema. My parents were cool. "If you do it, do it good," they told me.

On his training: After schooling at St. Bedes, Chennai, I took up B.A. in Theater Arts. I studied Theater in London, and then took a 2 1/2 years training in acting at the Stella Adler Academy of Acting in Hollywood. I worked as a bartender in a pub in East London called 'Weatherspoons'. It's a place you get to meet casting directors, agents, etc. At eight to ten pounds an hour, the money is good too. I then moved to Los Angeles and worked in a bar called 'Louis The Fourteenth', where celebrities come. I did some theater too. A lot of Elia Kazan and David Manet's plays. 

On his film entry: Earlier I had signed an English film with director Dou Chan Gersi, who has done a lot of documentaries, some French films and some American adventure films. That film has been postponed, and will be shot some time in the future. It was when I came for a vacation to India that I met Muthuraj, the art director and a friend of mine. He referred my name to a director for a film called 'Buddha'. But it didn't work out, and I returned to the U.S. On my next trip to Chennai, when I met Muthuraj he had handed over my stills to director Pragadhish who was looking out for a hero for 'University'. I met him and he was impressed and signed me immediately. There was opposition from various quarters, but my director was adamant and backed me. I had one condition, that I wouldn't cut my hair.

On his first 'camera' appearance: My body language was more americanised, and I had to be subtle for the character. But I was not at all camera conscious or inhibited. I did have some difficult scenes. Like the scene where Raghuvaran advises me. I was totally blacked out for a moment. I looked so dumb stuck and zapped, but the expression was needed for the situation, and the director shot it straight. The dances were okay, I was comfortable, because the choreographers knew my failings. Further it was more of the MTV style of dancing, and I am a party animal and used to discos. The character was that of an introvert, in complete contrast to mine. I'm an extrovert, much into casinos and discos.

On his favourite actors: There are so many I admire. Robert De Nero is my role model. I feel James Dean was a perfect actor. James Coburn, Denzel Washington, Marlon Brando, Melanie Griffith. Kevin Spacey plays varied roles. Sidney Poiter is another one of my favourites. He was the black to really break into the white American stronghold. His total personality is so attractive. And down here I love to see Rajnikant's films. He makes your day!

On the directors he'd like to work with: I like to work with directors like Mahendran and Rudriah. I loved Rudriah's 'Aval Appadithan' , and all of Mahendran's films. So rooted to the soil, yet so entertaining.

On the type of roles he'd like to do: I like to do the role Kevin Spacey did in 'American Beauty'. I like to to roles that actors like Nana Patekar and Shahrukh Khan handle. They're not very image conscious. Manoj Bajpai is another actor who does varied roles. For me the script is the hero. I have to be impressed with a role, and I won't mind doing it, even if it is negative.

On 'Kakka Kakka': After seeing my poster somewhere, director Gautham ('Minnale') called me to play a role in 'Kakka Kakka'. I told him to give me a day to make up my mind, since I didn't know about him then. He warned me that people may advice me against doing the role, since it was a negative one. It's about a cop and gangster, and I play the gangster. What impressed me was that he had a full script ready and the characters were well etched out. I'm looking forward to the shooting. For my earlier film, I'd refused to cut my hair and the director was supportive. In this film too I have the same look. Let's see what the future holds, for I know my looks are quite unconventional!