As I was ushered into his cabin, Pawan Kalyan was giving last-minute directions to some partymen. Clad in blue denim jeans and a dark green shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbow, Pawan was a picture of tranquility notwithstanding the long moustache he has been sporting of late. Turning to me, he greeted in an affable voice and broke into a hearty laugh as we shook hands. Our common name seemed to have dispelled his almost pathological aversion to the media, at least for the moment.

After the initial pleasantries, I fired my questions aiming to read this enigmatic man who attracts as much criticism as adoration.

``I heard that you are a voracious reader,'' I said.

``Voracious? Hmmm. not exactly…but yes.. I do read a lot since I haven't had proper formal education,'' he replied, smiling and casting a cursory glance at a pile of hard-bound volumes stacked on a shelf beside him. Leaning forward, he continued, ``I prefer non-fiction, mostly autobiographies or biographies. My favourites are Che Guvera and JP.''

Playing his fingers as if to snap in the air, he mused for a while on his hero – Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan. This is one thing about him that perplexes many. He appears far removed from films when he talks of social service and social revolution.

``Who's your favourite author? And what's the book you are reading these days?'' I asked, wondering if he would offer further clues to his thought process.

``Hmmm,'' he stretched back and picked up a volume. ``Thanks for Not Arguing (!) of Jay Heinrich. This makes an interesting reading,'' he observed.

I couldn't help laughing for I was surely not trying to argue! Now that he's more or less in politics to lend support to his brother Chiranjeevi, Pawan for sure needs persuasive skills. ``But it's difficult to pick one favourite author,'' he admitted as any bibliophile would.

But somehow, an actor and a bibliophile seemed incompatible. As if reading my thoughts, he explained, ``actually, I don't like films much! Yes. I am an accidental hero. I never wanted to desperately be a star. It just happened.'' Then, how does he cope with all the expectations of his fans? ``I do try. The thing is, I try to do whatever I take up perfectly,'' he said without sounding vain.

``But your fans would surely have varied suggestions for you… In fact, among us friends we used to discuss how you should have done a particular film,'' I interposed.  Like? he said with a quizzical look. ``Johny could have been a Telugu version of Enter the Dragon,'' I ventured.

``Maybe but our producers do not have that kind of courage,'' he pointed out.

Coming as it did from one of the most bankable stars in Tollywood, it speaks volumes of creative limitations that directors have. A man of action, Pawan Kalyan rarely browses the Internet. Quite an irony, since literally thousands of his fans will be Orkuting 24/7, discussing his style, body language, diction and every move.

``I am not a Netizen. I don't even have an email ID,'' he confessed.

Some of those who have followed Pawan on-screen and off-screen sum him up in varied phrases as a falling star, great hero gone astray, eccentric etc. But off-screen, in person, Pawan Kalyan comes across as a down-to-earth, thought-provoking personality who loves to do what he deems fit. Take it or leave it.