Anant Nag at 66 is still hungry for good roles. One look at the latest stills of his upcoming film + (plus) and everybody can vouch that he can still give a run to the younger crop of actors. Director Gadda Viji, who has envisioned the new look of this veteran actor, has taken us back to his earlier days.
This is Viji’s second film after Dyavre. He says, “Different looks and diverse characters are not new to Anant Nag. Making use of his impressive personality and his vast film experience makes any narrative more interesting. He is the hero of my story and is apt as the main character in +,” he says.
Anant Nag plays the role of a big industrialist who tries to turn two negatives into positives. “The actor will have three looks in the movie, which will be revealed bit by bit,” reveals Viji. “In this film, he will be playing a character in his fifties. He will also be seen in a younger role and the third look will be the surprise element. The moment, the still is out, it will attract a lot of attention to his look and the story,” he says.
It is challenging to bring in a senior actor like Anant Nag and make him play a mainstream character. “My producer Ritesh, director Yogaraj Bhat and another friend of mine, sat and discussed this story before roping in Anant Nag. We have also added the fights and songs for those who liked to watch it. The moment Anant Nag heard the story, he accepted it saying that he should encourage young talent who come up with new ideas.He was very sporting and participated in the recent photo shoot showcasing his different looks, which he did within the busy schedule of his other movies. Even his wife Gayathri was there throughout the shoot. They liked the direction in which we were taking this film and felt that it would be an interesting journey,” he says.
The film has gone on floors silently and as of now, Shweta Pandit has an important role. “The other stars will be revealed one by one. Right now, we have just released the teaser and the photos of Anant Nag. We will soon hold a press meet to talk more about our film,” he mentions.
Viji has invested in two rigs, which he will be using it for the entire film. “I am doing away with tripods and will be using rigs, which is a popular techonolgy used for filmmaking in Bollywood and Hollywood films,” he says. While Viji’s Dyvare was a critically acclaimed offbeat film, this time around, he is adding a commercial element to the film.
“I want to make the film my way and at the same time want to assure the producer that he will get back his money. Luckily, my producer Ritesh is technically aware of filmmaking. I have director Yograj Bhat’s support and this film is coming out under his banner. He will also support me financially in the post-production,” says Viji, adding, “Directing my first film Dyvare was like making 10 films at once. During the process, I learnt how to make a film on a shoestring budget. I also understood that you don’t need too much money to add richness to a film. Above all, I learnt the art of patience, which I will use in +,” he signs off.