I need cinema and not vice-versa: Actor Siddique

Veteran Malayalam actor Siddique, who has completed 31 years in the film industry, said that he needs the cinema world and it's not the other way round.

Ahead of the release of his latest film "Sughamayirikette", the veteran actor said he prefers to look forward and not look back on his career.

"What you should realise is that I am travelling on the same track as so many others do. And having reached this far is some credit for me... because I have reached a level where I never ever imagined I would achieve," Siddique told reporters here on Thursday.

"It's me who needs cinema and not vice-versa because I know that I am just one of the many who are in the industry. Even without me, the cinema industry will go forward, so I need cinema," added the actor.

The 53-year-old, in a career that began in 1985, has so far donned the greasepaint in close to 300 films.

Starting his career handling small comedy roles, he grew in stature and graduated to do roles of a villain and also handled character roles with ease.

On his acting career, Siddique said that acting is not at all a comfortable job and hence he is not one who can advice anyone, including to his son Shaheen, who has just been launched into the film industry.

"See, I am one who has no taste to teach someone else how to act. All I can do is to act in the roles that I get," said Siddique, whose popular films include the recently released "Pathemari" and "Fireman" -- in which he co-starred with superstar Mammootty -- and also "Loham", in which he shared screen space with superstar Mohanlal.

Over the years, Siddique has been an integral artiste in most films of the two superstars.

On how he sees the present-day film industry, Siddique said there have been huge changes in every aspect of filmmaking, and so it becomes tougher to keep adapting to the changes.

"To be successful, one has to go along with the needs of the time as people prefer changes and freshness. So, it's a challenge to make the needed changes," added Siddique.

Asked if he would prefer to extend his profile into politics, pat came the answer: "My life is cinema and it's going to be the same. I have not been approached as yet, but if anyone comes with any offer in politics, I will say a humble 'no'."