Acting is my passion, I consider myself saved if I am removed as minister: Suresh Gopi

KOCHI: Union Minister of State for Oil and Gas Suresh Gopi on Wednesday said acting is his passion and he cannot survive if he quits films.

Speaking at an event at the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce, the actor-politician said, “For me, acting is a passion. I cannot survive without acting in films. I have sought permission to act in films. However, I have not got it yet,” he said at the general body meeting of the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce.

Gopi also said that he has sought permission to start shooting for the film ‘Ottakomban’, but has not received it yet.

“But I’ll start working on it from September 6,” he said.

He said there were 20-22 films he wanted to do after hearing the script, and he agreed to act in them.

When he sought permission from Home Minister Amit Shah to act in the films, he was asked how much.

“I said around 22. When Amit Shah heard that, he threw that paper away. I will continue to discharge my responsibilities as a minister as well. But it is okay even if I lose my ministerial post,” he added.

“If they take me away for that, I’ll consider myself saved. That’s all I can say,” he said.

Responding to the findings of the Hema committee report, the Kerala Film Chamber stated that the association has not received any complaints and that the committee report will be studied.

Film Chamber Secretary General Saji Nanthyat said the association has a clear perspective on the report. “No active member of the film industry has made any defamatory statements to the committee against the film industry. Many are deliberately trying to malign Malayalam cinema,” he said, adding that female artists should not be labelled as ‘someone who is willing to make adjustments.’

“There are some offenders in the industry, but not everyone can be labelled a criminal or a mafioso,” he said during his address to the media after the general meeting.

(With inputs from PTI)