KOCHI: Sreejith Vijay has spend the last few months poring over Sai Baba videos, getting every gesture and gimmick of the godman right. Playing an icon is no easy task, especially when you are stepping into the shoes of a spiritual guru. “I feel blessed to be part of this project. It’s the biggest in my career so far - working with a renowned director like Kodi Ramakrishna and appearing as a globally revered figure,” says the excited actor about his latest, the Sathya Sai Baba biopic.
Best remembered as Pappu in Rathinirvedam remake, Sreejith says he was approached to play the young Sai Baba a couple of years back. “Rathinirvedam was dubbed and released in Telugu and that’s how Kodi Ramakrishna found me. He mailed me some morphed stills and the resemblance was hard to miss. With the right costumes I looked Baba’s carbon copy and everyone was totally impressed.” Sreejith says he was not a Baba devotee and had to do a lot of homework. “We all are familiar with his old, mature face, but Baba also had a very active and energetic youth. I know it because I was working on it, but the majority are still unaware of this phase,” he adds.
The film chronicle Baba’s life from early days to 80s and Sreejith was supposed to play him till 22. “From there Dileep chettan was expected to take over. But for a busy actor like him it was not possible to provide a 150-day-long call-sheet. His inconvenience turned out to be my luck and I got the chance to continue as Baba,” he laughs. After a spate of makeovers and make-up tests he was confirmed as the lead actor of the film. “For the film I was asked to maintain a lean, non-muscular physique. So I am into a lot of cardio these days. Some portions were canned in 2013 and Sukumari chechi was part of the cast. I think it will be her last film to hit screens,” he says.
The film also marks his Telugu debut and the young actor is all gung-ho about the industry. “I feel totally at home and as an artist I am treated very well. And I think I get some extra affection as I am doing the role of Baba.” He adds the only problem area is language as he finds Telugu very difficult to crack. “Then all the senior actors, including Jayaprada and Sarath Babu who play my parents, are very friendly and supportive,” he says. His last film to hit the screen was Chennai Koottam and Sreejith says currently he is focusing only on Baba Sathya Sai. “It has a vast schedule spread over six months. I was working as a radio jokey in Dubai and I quit my job to join the film. As of now I am keeping mu fingers crossed for its release,” he winds up.