Western express

How was it to essay the role of a mythological figure like Lord Ram in your first Hindi film?
In both the versions I play different characters. In the Tamil version,I play the protagonist while in the Hindi version I play the antagonist.

How was it working with director Mani Ratnam?
I think he is one of the best directors that Hindi and Tamil films have today. We have known each other for the last eight years,wanted to work together but never got the opportunity. Working with him,I realised that Mani has everything well planned.

Is it true that since your role dominated Abhishek Bachchan’s,there are plans to re-shoot the film for 30 days?
They are baseless rumours. There is no reason to re-shoot as Mani is happy with what he has got. Raavan is a huge film that has been shot on diverse locations. Six months were spent on planning the film before it went on the floors. Moreover,shooting inside a forest requires the permission of the Forest Department,which takes time to procure. Getting an ensemble cast was not easy either. The film has mostly big names and busy actors from Hindi and Tamil films like Abhishek Bachchan,Aishwarya Rai Bachchan,Govinda,Prithviraj,Manisha Koirala and Nikhil Dwivedi. It is not easy to re-work their schedules to shoot again.

Did you have to work on your look?
I have very challenging roles in both the versions and required immense work on my looks,voice and get-up.

Is it true that Amitabh Bachchan was all praise for you when he met you?
Yes. We met on a very informal note. He said he had seen some of my films. As for Abhishek,he too watches a lot of south Indian films. I was thrilled to hear that he liked some of them.

Did Big B give you any tips on acting?
No,but he’s such a genius. A lot of us have emulated him in some film or other.

Your Tamil film Anniyan was dubbed in Hindi and released as Aparichit in 2005. What kind of response did you get from Bollywood?
The film was a hit in Tamil. The response in Bollywood was also good but I think it was a subject that did not really touch many hearts there. Like every actor,I too wanted to do Hindi films but at that time I was not ready to take on something different and then had to pack my bags and leave. I was more comfortable doing films in my mother-tongue. It was Mani Ratnam who convinced me to do a Hindi film and now I guess I am ready to take on any challenge.

Does that mean you have some more assignments in Hindi?
I am hoping Bollywood will welcome me after Raavan. Meanwhile,I have my hands full with films in the south. I have signed a film with Mani Ratham’s associate Vikram Kumar whose 13-B was released some time ago. The shoot starts in September this year.

You bagged the National Award for the pathbreaking Tamil film Pithamagan where you play a gravedigger who doesn’t utter a word.
I play diverse characters in all my forthcoming films. There is a fantasy film and a period venture. I play a psychopath in one,a terrorist as well as a super-hero in two others. I assure you one of these films will bag me the most coveted National Award one more time.

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