Aari’s career seems to have gone on an upswing ever since the release of Nedunchalai. Dharani, his next film, where he plays a hotel owner, struggling to find his path in life, is now ready for release. Aari tells CE how he escaped the jaws of death during the shoot.
“Dharani is directed by Guhan Sambandam and is about a group of youngsters finding their way in life. It’s about the choices one makes and the road one takes that have a lasting impact on one’s future,” says Aari. His co-stars include Veronica, Sandra and Kumaravel. Aari has worked on three different looks for the film representing different stages of life. “I have three shades to my character so I have three looks as well. There’s the look of a middle class boy in one part. In another part, I’ve put on weight and look very mature. In the third segment near the climax, I had to lose a lot of weight and look toned,” says Aari.
Speaking about the special moments for him, Aari says, “Veteran Purasai Sambandham is a revered and legendary street theatre artiste known for his performances. After much persuasion, he consented to act in Dharani and will be seen on screen for the first time. He plays Sandra’s father. I was thrilled to actually be part of his first film.”
The shoot of Dharani will also be memorable for quite another reason, for Aari had a narrow escape from death. He recalls, “We were shooting at a giant stone quarry near Chengelpet Kumaravel and Ajay Krishnan were sitting near the edge and saying their dialogues. It was a very emotional scene. I had to keep walking around as I talked on my mobile.” He pauses as he gets emotional at the memory. “As I walked and talked, I came near the edge of the 400-feet deep quarry. Suddenly, I lost balance as my foot slipped on loose stones. I could hear my co-stars shouting in alarm. In a split second, I regained my balance and stepped back from the edge. My heart almost stopped beating during those few minutes. The prospect of possible death on the valley of stone below was mind numbing,” he concludes.