Not every newcomer will get the kind of opportunties that actor Hemachandran has got. After two multi-hero subjects, Kavidhai and Puzhal, his third film, Nandha Nanditha (NN), happens to be a bilingual and he plays different characters in both versions. “Yes. I play the hero in Tamil and the villain in Telugu,” he says.
Nandha Nanditha has been directed by Ram Shiva and is a complete masala film with the right mixture of commercial elements. It revolves around a guy who loses his life because of lack of guidance. “It’s a remake of the Kannada film, Vamshi, that went to become a huge hit in 2008,” says the actor. The actor is all praise for director Ram Shiva, who, he says, was very much involved in the project.
“We had to shoot for both Tamil and Telugu versions one after another. Though he (director) looked tense on the sets, he had planned everything so well that we finished the shooting ahead of the schedule,” says Hemachandran. He showers praises on his co-star Meghna Raj as well. “She is often identified as a Nayanthara-look-alike and I’m happy to have acted with her. She was so kind and didn’t throw her weight around.”
Hemachandran’s next project, Krishnaveni Panchalai (KP) is also ready to hit screens. “KP is a period film that starts in the 80s and travels up to the current period.
The film is about cotton mills and my character will be completely different from what I have played in NN,” says the actor.
With playing contrasting characters so early in his career, does he have any targets? “I just want to be a wholesome entertainer. People should like my presence on screen and I only work towards it,” he says.
Isn’t his name too long to pronounce? “We identify Arnold Schwarzenegger by his complete name. Not just him, we don’t find it difficult to address any Hollywood actor by their full name. It is only here that we don’t agree with long names. But I intend to retain the name that my parents have given me,” says Hemachandran.