“At 22, performing arts beckoned me through the back door,” says Ananth Mahadevan

The actor reminisces about being a copywriter in a publicity agency, not having any pocket money, and battling demons inside and out

Where were you career-wise?

Ananth Mahadevan at 22 (top), and at 60 (above)

With Shubha Khote in the play No Sex Please! We’re Indian

Ananth impersonating Nonie, the music compere in the play Yours Mine & Ours

Ananth in a mythological avatar for a play

With Rakesh Bedi in a telefilm directed by Mandira Kashyap

Kishore Kumar’s autograph on Ananth’s picture after the latter interviewed him for The Daily

With Pooja Bedi in Jagmohan Mundhra’s film Vishkanya