Web Exclusive: Why Dhanush is as endearing as he is

New Delhi: There is something startlingly simple about Dhanush K. Raja.

Despite 2011 being the year that he will probably cherish for the rest of his life, he remains true to his recently updated profile on Twitter: "actor and now suddenly a singer ?? haha well .. thats about it."

The Tamil star and his pretty wife Aishwarya were at NDTV for a good part of the early afternoon today, recording for the show Your Call with NDTV's Editorial Director, Sonia Singh.

Once done, we asked Dhanush what makes him so down-to-earth, despite winning a National Award earlier this year and rounding it off with a chartbusting song which has managed to do the impossible -make the North-South twain meet. There's actually a Punjabi version of a Tanglish song - it doesn't get bigger than this. Except that Why this Kolaveri Di is being hummed in many parts of the world, smashed records on YouTube and has aired on CNN in the US too.

Kolaveri couple Dhanush, Aishwarya at NDTV

Faced with the question, Dhanush pauses, even as those around him remind him of yet another recording. "I am grounded," he says softly, "because I know that all this is temporary. I know it will pass. I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth, I came up the hard way," he added after another soft pause, reminded perhaps of professional setbacks in 2004-2005, when three films were box-office duds.

The 2004 Tamil romance Dreams directed by his father Kasthuri Raja, remains as many say, Dhanush's biggest flop so far.

But all that has changed in 2011. His first release this year, the Tamil drama Aadukalam, won six awards at the National Film Awards, including a coveted Best Actor for him.

Mayakkam Enna, a Tamil romance directed by brother Selvaraghavan, which released last month, is a hit.

He continues to work with directors in the family with 3, directed by wife Aishwarya, from which the song that's created history. It's also changed Dhanush's life forever in a way he cherishes.

During the recording for the show he was asked several questions on what it felt like being the son-in-law of legendary actor Rajinikanth. We asked if he felt burdened to be a relative of the great Thalaivar. "It is a huge burden," he says, "which is why I am so thankful that this has happened."

The success of his films and the huge success of Why this Kolaveri Di, has empowered Dhanush to step out of the shadow of the legendary Rajinikanth - he is now Dhanush - and for that he is grateful.

Just like his tweets, he signs off with "God Bless." Perhaps it helps him remember each time, the good luck that has now come his way, the hard way. It's what makes him an endearing human being first, the star, second.

Those hoping to see him in Bollywood would have to wait awhile. Despite the speculation set off during his weekend in Mumbai when he visited the Bachchans and was seen at the special screening of Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, with a bevy of Bollywood stars, he hasn't signed on the dotted line anywhere yet. "No nothing yet" he tells us, though not ruling it out completely.

Now that would be something. Till then Dhanush K Raja has plenty of blessings to be thankful for.