Everything I do, I do with my father's name in mind: Meghamsh Srihari
Nearly six years after making his debut with the action comedy Rajdhoot, Meghamsh Srihari is gearing up for a fresh start with Aasman . “It’s a thriller, a genre I’ve always enjoyed, and I specifically wanted to take up something that doesn’t follow the usual template. The shoot is set to begin in May,” he says.
‘Aasman feels like the right film for my return’
Looking back on his first film and the years that followed, Meghamsh says, “Rajdhoot happened mainly because I wanted an escape from my routine college classes, and the opportunity presented itself at the right time. Later, I did another project where I had to become very lean for the role, but I personally didn’t enjoy how I looked during that phase. That eventually led me to step back and spend time preparing myself better. It wasn’t a conscious gap I planned to take, but in hindsight, I’m happy it happened because now I feel more ready.”
‘I’ve always felt a responsibility to carry forward what my father built’
Being the son of a beloved actor however carries a much deeper sense of responsibility. “More than creating a legacy of my own, I’ve always felt a responsibility to protect and carry forward what my father built over the years,” he says. “I never want to do anything that would bring down his name or the respect people have for him. Before taking up anything, I’m always careful because I never want people to say, ‘ Srihari garu’s son made a mistake."
‘My earliest memories of cinema are with my father on set’
Far removed from his tough on-screen avatars, Meghamsh remembers Srihari simply as a devoted father. “No matter how hectic his work schedule was, he always made time for us. Even after late-night shoots, he would come home, spend time with us, and make sure he was there for the family.” he says. Some of his fondest memories with his father are from iconic film sets. “I still remember visiting the sets of Magadheera with my dad when I was about nine years old,” he recalls. “They were filming that iconic 100-men fight sequence with Ram Charan garu. My dad was shooting as Sher Khan, and I remember telling him that I knew they were filming the flashback portions. He immediately told me, ‘Hey, don’t tell anyone! This stays secret.” (laughs).
‘Aasman feels like the right film for my return’
Looking back on his first film and the years that followed, Meghamsh says, “Rajdhoot happened mainly because I wanted an escape from my routine college classes, and the opportunity presented itself at the right time. Later, I did another project where I had to become very lean for the role, but I personally didn’t enjoy how I looked during that phase. That eventually led me to step back and spend time preparing myself better. It wasn’t a conscious gap I planned to take, but in hindsight, I’m happy it happened because now I feel more ready.”
‘I’ve always felt a responsibility to carry forward what my father built’
Being the son of a beloved actor however carries a much deeper sense of responsibility. “More than creating a legacy of my own, I’ve always felt a responsibility to protect and carry forward what my father built over the years,” he says. “I never want to do anything that would bring down his name or the respect people have for him. Before taking up anything, I’m always careful because I never want people to say, ‘ Srihari garu’s son made a mistake."
‘My earliest memories of cinema are with my father on set’
Far removed from his tough on-screen avatars, Meghamsh remembers Srihari simply as a devoted father. “No matter how hectic his work schedule was, he always made time for us. Even after late-night shoots, he would come home, spend time with us, and make sure he was there for the family.” he says. Some of his fondest memories with his father are from iconic film sets. “I still remember visiting the sets of Magadheera with my dad when I was about nine years old,” he recalls. “They were filming that iconic 100-men fight sequence with Ram Charan garu. My dad was shooting as Sher Khan, and I remember telling him that I knew they were filming the flashback portions. He immediately told me, ‘Hey, don’t tell anyone! This stays secret.” (laughs).
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