That ‘Mankatha’ is a movie about baddies and that the movie does not aim to justify as to why and how they became baddies is something which was made clear by its writer and director Venkat Prabhu right at the start. He also indicated that the film will not have a ‘message’ like most other films releasing now do. So, it is no surprise that there is a considerable amount of interest as to what the film has to offer and who plays the guy who takes the baddies in it for a ride.
Beams Arjun, “I play that role in the film ‘Mankatha’.”
The actor, who celebrated his birthday on August 15 says, “I play the good cop in the film; a character called Prithviraj. This is my first film with Ajith. And the excitement and enjoyment has been the same as when I acted with Kamal Haasan in ‘Kurudhi Punal’ and with Mammootty recently in ‘Vande Mataram’. I got to know Ajith very well and I knew that acting in a multi-starrer is quite an experience for any actor. And in this film, I am happy to have got a character with positive shades,” says Arjun.
But this apart, there are quite a few things in the pipeline for the actor. “I am looking forward to ‘Kaattu Puli’, the action thriller,” he adds, “You need to ask the director, as to when it will release.”
‘Kaattu Puli’ is a thriller set in the jungle. There are claims that it is a one-of-a-kind Tamil film. Arjun plays the role of a saviour who saves three newly married couples. Priyanka Desai plays the female lead. Rajneesh, Mr India title winner, Sayali Bagath, Miss India, Hanaya, Miss Assam and Amith, Jahan and Jennifer play the other three pairs in the film.
Shot in the deep jungles of Thalaikonam, Kerala, 50 horses were used for the film. He also adds that working with director, Tinnu Verma, Bollywood’s renowned action master (and seven time Filmfare award winner for his action sequences in ‘Veer’, ‘Gaddar’, ‘Border’, ‘Kudha Gawaah’) was a memorable experience. Incidentally, the film happens to be Tinnu’s first Tamil-Telugu-Hindi trilingual and he has handled the action sequences for this film too.
The actor, who is also a director and producer, reveals that he will be directing his first Hindi film soon. “I have nearly finished the script and am waiting to work on the cast. This film will fall under the action genre and should start shaping up in a month’s time,” he says. There is also a production venture coming up. “Actually, I wanted to produce and direct a bilingual film in Tamil and Telugu, which was when the Hindi flick shaped up. This should go on floors next year,” he says.
Currently, the actor who is working on ‘Om’ says, “We are done with the first schedule and are waiting for the next to start.”
‘Om’ is being directed by PLR Ilankannan and has model and actress Pallavi Subhash playing the female lead.