It is becoming increasingly common for young actors to approach directors for a chance to star in films with the potential to succeed at the box office. Actors such as Siddharth, Vijay Sethupathi and Bharath are candid when they say they went out of their way to bag the films they are currently doing. At the press meet of Theeya Velai Seiyyanum Kumaru , actor Siddharth said though he was generally reluctant to ask filmmakers for a chance, he had approached Sundar C at a party and asked him if he would consider casting him as the lead in his film.
Actor Bharath also revealed at the press interaction of 555 that he had approached the producers and offered to do the film as he was impressed with the script. The same is true of Vijay Sethupathi. The actor, whose stock is rising by the minute, had to speak to those close to the director of Soodhu Kavvum , Nalan Kumarasamy, to land the role of Das, a 40-something man. What pushed him to do it? “Nalan had given me the script to get my opinion. When I read it, I really liked the role of Das. But, I also realised that I was not being considered for the role. Perhaps he felt I was too young for it. So I requested Karthik Subbaraj, the director who gave the hit Pizza , and the producer to recommend me to the director. I just couldn’t let go of such a good role,” says Vijay Sethupathi.
Doing their parents proud
The names of actor Sivakumar and his wife Lakshmi will be etched on the boards outside the preview theatre coming up in the complex that is being constructed by the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce.
The decision was arrived at after the chamber received a generous donation of Rs. 1 crore from Suriya and Karthi. “When Suriya and Karthi offered a donation, we wanted to name the theatre after them. But, they declined the offer and asked us to name it after their parents,” says C. Kalyan, the president. It is not an image-boosting exercise, the committee members insisted. “It just shows how deeply they value their parents,” said C. Kalyan.
Winner on their hands?
The makers of Vai Raja Vai , whose posters suggest that the film could be about gambling and betting, have announced that they are betting on Gautam Karthik who plays the lead. For both director Aishwarya Dhanush and Gautam Karthik, this film is crucial as both their first films didn’t do as well as expected despite the enormous pre-release hype.
This film will be produced by AGS Kalpathi Aghoram. Yuvan Shankar Raja has been roped in to score the music.
