I'm very comfortable with my image -Dhanush

The director of his current film, Pollavadhan, waited for a year just so he could cast him in the film. Dhanush is one of the most in-demand actors in the Tamil industry today and getting his dates isn't easy. But his success wasn't always assured, for he isn't the conventional good-looking hero. Dhanush has no hassles admitting that's true. "Even when I entered the industry everybody, including my relatives and the media, called me a gawky, dark, ugly, thin teenager who had no business being in the in it. But I didn't let that affect me - I had my work to think about and just kept at it. I'm very comfortable with my image - in fact I'm happy being thin," says the actor.

Ask him if he doesn't miss pumping iron and a beefy body, and Dhanush says an emphatic 'no' . "I'm just a couple of years old here and I still have a long way to go. There's still time to play those father and cop roles! Besides, putting on weight would mean restricting my choice of roles. Right now I want to look my age and play the college-goer ," he explains.

The actor, who says Al Pacino is his idol, insists he doesn't like to copy anyone. "There are so many good actors and if you like half a dozen of them, what a lot of work it'll be trying to copy all of them! I'm not claiming I'm 100 per cent original, but at least I'm trying to be," he laughs.

And does he get compared to his superstar father-in-law , Rajnikanth? "How can anyone even think of comparing me to thalaivar? That would be the height of stupidity! He's an icon and incomparable. I have been a huge Rajni fan since childhood and can't think of myself on par with him," says Dhanush.

And he's all praise for Sivaji. "The entire family watched it first day, first show and I was in awe of the film. I came out more than satisfied ," he says.

And when it comes to his own performance, Dhanush has a different take. "I don't read reviews and the only people whose opinion I seek are my brother Selva Raghavan and wife Aishwarya. I also don't think too much of awards - they aren't what they used to be - and I'm yet to receive any!" he laughs.

And when he's not shooting, Dhanush loves watching movies. "I watched Cheeni Kum recently and loved it. I also watched the Kannada film Arasu and wanted to make it in Tamil with some changes in the climax. But a similar film was made here, so I didn't go ahead. I want to get into direction - who knows, I may even make an announcement shortly," he says.