In an industry dominated by stereotypes, he is an exception. Kamal Hassan has refused to be typecast and revels in the unusual. With every new film he has tried to do something different. Donning the role of a middle aged woman in his latest film Avvai Shanmukhi - adaptation of the Hollywood comedy `Mrs Doubtfire' - is yet another example of his versatility and the penchant for being different. In this informal chat, Kamal Hassan talks about the film; his inner urge to do something different, and about the major influence in his corner.

On the making of Avvai Shanmukhi.......

"Avvai Shanmukhi was something that me andcrazy Mohan (who has written the dialogue for the film) were discussing for a couple of years. No, there was no plan to do a film, then we were just talking about an idea and were so enthused that we even made up the story. This, I think, was before Mrs Doubtfire. But, we dropped the idea because male actors performing in drag was becoming a cliche. And I was not too keen to do make up all over again after `Indian'."

"It so happened that there was a time when Ravikumar (who directed Indian & Avvai) couldn't find a subject for his next film. I suggested `Shanmukhi'. He liked it so much that he decided to go ahead. I had to warn him that it could be expensive and working hours could be limited because of the special make-up. He never seemed to mind it."

"Initially, I was bit worried about how people might react. But, then emotionwise, its very different from Indian. Avvai... is an unpretentious comedy with unexpected twists and turns. So, I thought there is no harm in making people laught a bit."

What was it like donning the female role, What about the make-up?

"The first test with the make up failed. I went to U.S to get it corrected and recrafted. It's been expensive, but worth the trouble."

"With make-up on, we could work only for six hours. Sometimes we could stretch it to seven. I had to get up at 3.30 a.m. and be on the sets by 4.30 a.m. There would be a four hour make-over job. They would start doing th basic work and leave only my mouth open. I was given only half an hour to feed myself. After that I could sip anything with a straw only. So, often I had to skip lunch. In fact, the entire unit skipped lunch".

Then it must have been really hard ........

"Oh yes. I have been through all this before, so this time I was prepared for it. Acting with rubber on your face is quite different. You are not in control and often behave like a man with facial paralysis. It's actually like driving a motorbike with a side car. You know, it has a funny drag to one side. And then, there also this danger to your skin. We had to cancel shooting several times because my face swollen. But then it was good fun."

What drives him to try different things?

"Well, an honest audience will not accept the same story over and over again. Now a days, people change their soaps & toothpastes just for the heck of it and films are no exception."

On major influences in his career

"As a boy, I was greatly inspired by T K Shanmugam, the veteran stage actor. It was great training under him. He would bend over backwords about the make up. I was astounded by the change of personahe could effect, the way he spoke and the way he mimed the toothless Avvaiyar eating gooseberries given by the king, you could almost feel how sour the fruit was. Avvai Shunmukhi, is in a way, my own humble tribute to this great man.

...... Shivaji Ganeshan has been another great influence and so is Marlon Brando, K Balachandar has been of much help throughout my career."

And what about the future?

"One of my great ambitions is to direct a film. And I would like to do a disc with Ilaya Raja. I wish Rajkamal films could produce at least a hundred good films before I am too old."