ACTOR VIJAY INTERVIEW

As everybody knows, I play an army man but the army background will be minimal in the film. Thuppakki will have the events that happen during the holiday period of an army man. Although army is the background, my character will be a jovial one.

It was good working with Kajal Aggarwal. In Thuppakki, heroine’s character is not an ordinary one that just appears like a show piece. She has lots of dialogues and the surprising factor is she learnt her dialogues and spoke in Tamil instead of speaking in Hindi which some artists do especially for long shots which will later be corrected at dubbing levels.  That was a good thing and a good effort from Kajal.

Yes, the character is that of a Tamilian living in Mumbai. We took the help of an assistant director who knows Tamil and Hindi, made him speak the specific slang of Hindi that is being spoken in Mumbai and learnt.

This is certainly a gift which I never expected. My expectation levels when I entered cinema were very low. Beyond that, the directors that I have worked with have been giving me good breaks periodically in my career. I am very happy and touched when I realize that I have been liked by all kinds of audience.

Yeah, that was an interesting one. It was one of the days when we were shooting. Harris Jeyaraj called me to his studios for half an hour. I thought he was going to show me a tune that he had composed. But Murugadoss and Harris wanted me to sing a song. I was a little apprehensive and told them that I would definitely give it a try but have not sung in six years. I went ahead with the thought that if it is not good enough, they can always have an alternative. But they really encouraged me and I sung twice once in Chennai studios and the second time in Mumbai studio. It is an easy tune and anybody can sing it.

That shows Harris Jeyaraj’s magnanimity. I know the tensions that I had… (laughs)

Financial issues are common in this field and tight situations for producers are likely to happen which is a normal occurrence. Date issues were involved; it was about Kajal Aggarwal’s dates and Santosh Sivan’s dates. If we miss these dates, it would have been difficult later to assemble everybody and bring to the sets. Why should we miss their dates for money issues? It is a very small issue and I helped the producer. That’s all.

Yes, tricky situations come in all projects and I think of every film as my project and try to help people out.

The agency approached and asked if my mom would feature in the ad as it is about mom-son concept. My mom initially hesitated but later agreed. I also liked it and it touched my heart. I think it is the mom and son concept that had struck the right notes. I am not sure if it would have received similar response had it been for some other relationship. Later I came to know that my mom had thanked the agency people for giving an opportunity for her son to lie in her lap for almost 2-3 hours after a very long time. It was a good experience.

We are commencing the project this month end. Title is not yet fixed. Heroine is Amala Paul.

They are good. Son is in 7^th grade and daughter in 2^nd. Times with them are interesting. They discuss a lot of new things every day. There will be a big change in them whenever I get back after a month of shooting. They discuss something new which would be very surprising to me. Lots of fights also happen at home which are interesting to watch.

I take things very cool! I have faced a lot of ups and downs in my life but nothing would reach me. Not that I have learnt to deal with such situations, I think I have grown up like that to take things in a cool manner. OK, something has happened and let me see how the situation can be overcome and deal with as much positivity as I can. That’s how we sorted out issues during a film’s release.

Yes, I also want to work with him. We are yet to discuss about it in detail.

A lot... (laughs) It is a travel of 18 years. Vikraman sir was the first one to bring in a change. Of course, my dad made me a commercial hero. But Vikraman sir gave a new color to my performance in Poove Unakkaga and then Fazil sir. Once in every 3-4 years, directors have moulded me and have brought me in this shape. They are the ones responsible for this. I could not have done this alone.

You can say both. In between I kind of let it go easy and my career was proceeding in a mass hero format and then I got bored of the monotony. Then I took a conscious decision and did Kaavalan, Velayudham and Nanban. It was just a happenstance that I worked with established directors.

It is a good thing. The relationship of Anna-elder brother-is immortal. Loverboy (image) constantly changes but not anna.

I think Simbu and Dhanush started quite early. I see the current crop of actors as very talented. They are excelling in all fields.

Pizza, it was really scary!

If you narrate a story in a proper, interesting manner, it is bound to be successful. This has been time tested.

I was to work with Gautham Menon in Yohan after Thuppakki and that’s how we planned. That has not happened but we will definitely work when our dates are conducive. That’s for sure.

No, earlier I was thinking on those lines but now I have changed my idea. Direction is a job full of tension. It will not work for me.

Yeah, one fine day she told that she wants to direct and it was shocking to me. It is an interest nurtured in her. I wished her all the best. Everyone has a good word about her in the sets. I am happy.

During holidays or weekends, I ask them to join me if I am shooting outside. But they will not join me if I am shooting in Pollachi or Karaikudi. They would come only if it is Hyderabad or Bangalore or Mumbai.

Family, friends and kids. We watch a lot of films together.

Yeah I do my regular work outs. I am not the type who will be at the gym 24 hours. I will do the basic essential work outs to keep myself fit.

I do want but somehow it does not seem to happen. In fact I tried once but left it just like that. I need to try and be active. But it is a good thing. To make good things reach a wider audience, social networking sites are helpful.

NO, never. This is the line that I chose myself and came into this after a lot of arguments. I have never felt that way.

I definitely feel bad. Not only me, but an entire team works for it. But I will see where I have gone wrong and try to not repeat such mistakes in future.  Everything is a lesson.