The teaser of Imaikka Nodigal is just out and Anurag’s villainy has upped the anticipation around the Atharvaa-Nayanthara starrer. Director Ajay Gnanamuthu has given Anurag a slight makeover, with closely-cropped hair. The film is over 70 per cent complete with only some action and song portions remaining. The next schedule will start towards the end of May in Chennai and Bengaluru. “We will mostly be shooting on location, in busy parts of the city,” says Ajay. Anurag will be part of major stunt scenes, for which he seems to be preparing in earnest.
“He’s working out rigorously to build his body for the role. Moreover, he will be flying down five days before the shoot to attend a special stunts workshop,” adds the filmmaker. The director-turned-actor had already done a few stunts in the previous schedule, which reportedly took a toll on him, recalls Ajay. “In the previous schedule Anurag had to shoot an action scene with some quick movements. We were also using a thick smoke cover for effect. These two factors proved too much for him. He started feeling giddy. I stopped the shoot immediately and asked him to rest. But after a brief respite, he was back on his feet again.”
Was he ever apprehensive that being a celebrated director himself, Anurag would try to call the shots? “Initially, I was nervous that he may be judgemental, since this is just my second film. But my fears were totally unfounded. Anurag is a complete director’s actor. He trusted me completely and even avoided looking at the monitor. He was also always ready to redo takes till I was satisfied,” Ajay gushes. Furnishing further proof of Anurag’s commitment, he says, “He would learn his Tamil dialogues a day in advance and recite them to me before shooting. I would then help him with pauses, intonation and expressions. His attention to detail has ensured that the lip sync will be perfect.”