Veera is keeping his fingers crossed as Nadunisi Naaigal , a psychopath thriller, directed by Gautam Menon hits the screens tomorrow. This young assistant director, who worked with Gautam Menon for five years, makes his debut as an actor with this film. “While assisting a film, you work in a protected environment, when it comes to Nadunisi …I feel a little insecure because it is like coming out of your comfort zone and taking on more responsibilities. But, I love to be an actor. And what more, I get to chase the beautiful Sameera Reddy,” he laughs. Veera was at GRD College in Coimbatore along with Sameera Reddy for an interaction with students. Veera grew up on a diet of Kamal Hassan films. “When I saw his Kuridhi Punal , I decided to become an actor,” he says. He is a regular guy who has idli vada for breakfast (no protein diets), plays basketball and watches movies. “I am pretty much the Karthik (played by Simbu) whom you saw in Gautam Menon's Vinnaithaandi Varuvaya ,” says the young actor.
Success story
Ask him to define success and he says every single actor from Nagesh sir and Rajnikanth to Kamal Hassan and Surya, everyone is successful in their own way. “I personally consider myself successful for having completed acting in Nadunisi ...” Veera frequents Coimbatore. And, explores places in Gobichettipalayam and Erode with his friends. Gautam Menon also shot portions of Vaaranam Ayiram , especially the helicopter shot where the narrative begins, in Coimbatore. Veera plays one of the commandos who walks up to Surya in the film and consoles him after they get the message of his father's death. “It was a memorable experience where we filmed the aerial shot. It was scary to sit in an open chopper. I managed to get a bird's eye view of Coimbatore from 3,500 ft up in the air,” he recalls.
Sameera Reddy and Veera share a great rapport. “He is so focussed, exceeded our expectations and surprised everyone,” she says about her co-star. “I didn't have to go that extra mile to get friendly with Sameera as I have worked with her already as a director,” Veera adds. The students had lined up a set of rapid fire questions for the actors who were quite game for it. Name an item queen (‘Fatafat Jayalakshmi', answers Veera). Is it Munni badnami or Sheila ki jawani ? “Munni badnami, hands down,” comes the quick answer from Sameera.
