Kochi: Actor-politician Suresh Gopi on Wednesday said he would consider himself “saved” if he was removed as Union minister of state for acting in films during his tenure as minister.

Gopi also said that he had asked for permission to start shooting for the film ‘Ottakomban’ but had not received it yet.

“But I will start filming on September 6,” he said.

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Tourism said that there were 20 to 22 films in which he was keen to take part after hearing the script and that he had agreed to act in them.

When he asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah for permission to act in the films, he was asked how many there were.

“I said around 10 p.m. When Amit Shah heard this, he put aside my application letter. But he said the permission will be granted. Anyway, I will be here on September 6,” Gopi said at an event organized by the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce.

He said he would bring three or four officials from the ministry to assist him in carrying out his ministerial duties and for whom special arrangements would have to be made on the film sets.

“All of that is what I want to do. So if they depose me because of that, I consider myself saved. That’s all I can say,” he said.

Gopi said he never had any desire to become a minister and still has no aspirations to do so.

“I bowed to their (his leaders’) decision to make me a minister after they said that they were giving me the post for the people of Thrissur who voted me to power and not for myself. I accepted that decision.

“I still obey my leaders and will continue to do so. But without my passion (cinema), I will die,” he said.