AFTER two back-to-back releases, actor Vikranth has every reason to smile. His films, Muthukku Muththaga, directed by Rasu Maduravan and Sattapadi Kutram, directed by SA Chandrasekar, released this month. Actor Vikranth is all-set to bounce back in a new innings in Kollywood.
Illayathalapathy’s cousin and often known as his look-alike, Vikranth seems to have shed the tag and finally found his own style. In a free wheeling chat, he tells us what has changed and how his future looks.
He began his journey into filmdom with Karka Kasadara directed by Udayakumar in 2006, followed by Manigandan’s Ninaithu Ninaithu Parthein. In 2009, Agathian’s Nenjathai Killathe followed.
These solo hero projects were soon proceeded by Engal Aasan, in which Vikranth had a role with Vijaykanth. However, none of these films made him a household name.
Analysing what went wrong, Vikranth says, “I was a South zone level cricket player and entered films on a lark, without any stage experience. I was swayed by other people’s success. Only later did I realise that sheer hard work had gotten them there.” Comparisons to Vijay didn’t help either. “People called me ‘Vijay’s xerox’! Though I was happy, I realised that it put me under pressure too, and gave me the need to carve my own identity.” That’s when Goripalayam happened in 2010. A multihero film, it gave Vikranth a new identity — the bearded look he sported in that small role was recognised. “I owe it to Rasu Maduravan who helped me break my typecast image. He taught me to act like a village boy. People finally started recognising me as Vikranth!” he laughs.
Vikranth says shooting for Sattapadi Kutram in the Sathyamangalam forests was unforgettable, particularly with the leeches and bison that gave them company. “But shooting for Muthukku Muthagha in Chinnallapatti was fun. My co-stars Saranya and Illavarasan gave me a lot of tips. The entire cast would eat together like one big family,” he recalls.
Marriage to Manasa has also changed him a lot. “She is my biggest critic and adviser.
Thanks to her, I’m no longer shy about talking to people. These are positive steps in building my career,” he says.
Happy with his new identity, Vikranth returns as sole hero in debut director Arul Rajan’s Vavvaal. “I’m open to doing any role. I don’t mind doing multi-hero subjects or even a negative role,” he says.