Director Vikram K Kumar’s phone hasn’t stopped ringing the past two days. Many well-wishers and friends, press persons included, have been calling him to find the answer to the ‘ultimate’ question — is Ajith replacing Vikram in his next film, 24? “This is news to me,” says the director, “I have been getting calls from people, asking me if I have roped in Ajith instead of Vikram. I have no idea from where these rumours originate. There’s no ounce of truth in it. I’m going ahead with Vikram, and if all goes well, 24 will go on floors on December 2.” But, has he approached Ajith for any of his other films? “I don’t know Ajith personally and I haven’t approached him yet. But, he’s one of those actors whom I’m in awe of. I would definitely want to work with him. After I finish 24, I will meet him with a scr
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Given her popularity in south after Mutthirai and Siddu From Sikakulam, one wonders why hasn’t Manjari cashed in on Jaane Tu…to give her a kickstart in Bollyland! She hasn’t signed too many Hindi films since that blockbuster hit the screens in 2008. “Well, there were lots of offers. I said ‘no’ to at least 10 because I didn’t want to be a glam prop. There wasn’t much for me to do in those films,” she rues. In a film industry where female protagonists are essentially roped in to add glam, is there really much room for talent? “I have no problems doing glam roles. But, I don’t believe in skin show,” she points out firmly. Now, where have we heard that before?
We are talking about kilos here, though! We all know that this Subramaniapuram actor goes to any extent to make sure his look and body language are apt for the character he plays in a film. And he just did that again while shooting for Aval Peyar Tamizharasi (APT). Says its director Meera Kathiravan, “Jai plays a young village lad in APT and the script demanded that he look extremely lean. At that time, Jai was shooting for Vaamanan and he had a well-built physique. But the professional he is, Jai asked me to give him some time and the next time I saw him, man, was he lean! He remarked jovially, ‘Sir, I can see my bones through the skin. Is this enough?’ I was awed by his dedication. I also wanted him to sport a beard for this film, but was wondering how differently I could do it as Jai had
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• Your last film Arundhati was one of the top grossers in Tollywood. How has life changed after that?
Arundhati spawned a new trend in filmmaking. It didn’t have a hero and dealt with a supernatural theme and a subject like rebirth. It proved that the only formula for success is a good script. I also owe it to Shyam Prasad, who gave me this film. Such are the ways of the industry that they had written him off for making an average film like Anji, despite having delivered so many hits earlier. He’s proved them all wrong now.
• You shouldered the entire film sans a hero. Do you feel you’ve scored a point for women-centric films?
I don’t believe in hero- or heroine-oriented films. It’s the script
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