QUEEN’S ROAD: Weeks after Ram Gopal Varma met with Muthappa Rai to talk about a film on the former underworld don, the filmmaker has confirmed that Sudeep will play the lead.
Kannada actor Aditya, who was keen on playing Rai, has been left disappointed with RGV’s decision to sign Sudeep for the film, which has been titled Appa.
“I arranged for a screening of Edegaarike for Ram Gopal Varma recently,” Aditya told City Express. He played the lead in the 2012 crime drama. “If it were anyone else, I would have said something,” the actor said. “But Sudeep is a good friend.”
He went on to say that the film focuses on one real-life incident, rather than playing out Rai’s life.
RGV apparently told a source that Sudeep fit the bill. “He felt Sudeep could pull off the role of a villain as well as a hero,” the source said. But RGV hasn’t yet revealed whether Appa will show Rai in a positive or negative light.
A couple of days ago, after he listened to the script — 75 per cent of which is complete — Sudeep signed up for the project, the source added.
RGV, who is shooting for Killing Veerappan, and Sudeep weren’t available for comment. Sudeep is busy with S Krishna’s Hebbuli and K S Ravi Kumar’s bilingual.