Lost Hero

This Singh isn’t king anymore,though he did get off to a royal start winning accolades for his very first film,Tere Mere Sapne. Chandrachur Singh,who was hailed as the new star back then,won the Filmfare Debut Award for Maachis in 1996,but faded into insignificance,starring only in a few films after that. “It’s by choice,” he says. “Offers did pour in from across the industry but I reserved my decision since I wanted quality over quantity,” he adds,maintaining that no offer came close to his role of a normal boy-turned-terrorist in Maachis. Now,Singh finally has something to look forward to. He will be seen in a children’s film called Maruti Mera Dost,which released yesterday and mirrors the story of triumph of good over evil.

In Delhi t o promote the film, Singh then tells us Maruti Mera Dost is that it’s produced by his younger brother Abhimanyu. “I have been attached with the creative process of the film from the beginning. I had faith in the script,” says the 40-year-old actor. The 120-minute film,directed by debutant Manikya Raju,is based on lord Hanuman and boasts stunning visual effects.

Singh plays Kunwar Raghvendra Singh,the father of an eight-year-old girl who is determined to combat the evil forces targeting the family. Lord Hanuman steps in,in a child’s form,to save the girl. “It’s a family entertainer,” says Singh. He passes a rare grin and informs that he has also sung in the film. “It’s an old bhajan which was written by Tulsidas,” he adds. “It was a refreshing experience. Singing has been part of me since I used to teach music in a school here in Delhi before joining films.” A comeback for the brooding actor? Singh is reading more scripts right now.