He describes it as his second innings in cinema and perhaps rightly so. Actor Vikrant, who went into a hiatus of sorts for over a year after Muthukku Muthaga, is now returning with not one, but two films. While his brother Sanjeev is directing him in his home production Piravi, Vikrant reveals to CE that he is also doing a key role in Vishal’s home production Paandiya Naadu directed by Suseendran.
Says Vikrant, “I’m happy that my brother is directing me. He knows my minus points and has helped me overcome them. I’m confident that Piravi will take me to the next level in my second innings.” Ask him how the Suseendran flick came about and he smiles, “Thanks to the CCL, Vishal has become like a brother. One day he called me up and said there was a wonderful role in Paandiya Naadu, which he felt was very apt for me. He is my well-wisher and I trust his opinion. So even without hearing the story, I instantly accepted and said I would go and meet director Suseendran. I’m very happy to be working in Vishal’s debut production in a key role alongside him on screen.”
The actor seems to have gained oodles of confidence and done away with the shyness that haunted him earlier. “Being a part of the CCL has helped me bond with my peers and overcome my reserve,” he admits. For Piravi, he has lost around 10 kilos thanks to the intense training of CCL coach Santosh Gopi. Vikrant plays a rough shod boy, who works in fast food outlet next to a TASMAC bar.
And what did cousin Ilayathalapathy Vijay have to say? “Vijay already knows the film’s story. I never discuss films with him. We only talk cricket! But he did hear the one track we have recorded and said it was good. Vikrant has a good feeling about the movie, “Piravi will showcase me very differently and will definitely be a movie which will be spoken about,” he concludes.