CAST NAKUL INTERVIEW

After Boys I realised something. Post the last shot in the film, Shankar sir said ‘all the best’ to everyone who were cast as we were all newbies then. Till that point I never thought I had done anything great in my life. Only after Boys I felt like I made my mother proud. After that I knew that I wanted to get into acting very seriously. I listened to many scripts that came along the lines of Boys and I didn’t quite like the treatment of a fat character being laughed at. Since I wanted to be taken seriously, I reduced weight and became fit. Thereon, I kept listening to scripts and took time to reload every once in a while. And that’s why may be the gap!

(Laughs) Well, I didn’t have to do much as the director did all the research. He literally worked with the Anna University students and involved many people related to science. Whenever I choose a character there has to be some similarity between me and the character. Here, Vasanth and I are both curious and on-the-feet although, memorizing the dialogues was a little difficult for me. I usually like to be ready and completely prepared with the script before I go on roll. So this film needed a lot of preparation. And as it was a dialogue driven movie, I could do all that I didn’t do in college.

I am grateful to the producer of this film, V Chandran, because our previous film Naan Rajavaga Pogiren didn’t do well. Usually after a flop film, producers don’t trust the actors but he supported me. In fact he recommended my name to the director. You know that’s how I want the cinema industry to work. There should be a trend where you say this actor will be suited to this character and that should be the only base, instead of considering the market value of a hero. Only then, real talent can be churned out.

On location I was a part of everything. From the dialogues to the camera work I was there. Deepak, the cameraman and the director were like husband and wife and I was like their kid. So even the minute details of shots and angles were discussed. We shot most of the film on a terrace during the peak May under the sun. So we were a very focused group. No hanky-panky talks would be there. Apart from discussing the script we would only greet each other. Music director Thaman is my dear friend and I knew he would do an awesome work. Editor Sabu also was amazing and we all know that he bagged a National award.

Variety (laughs). I will be happy working with everyone. I am not that person who will select a few and work only with them. I get a different experience every time I work with someone new. I don’t want to stagnate with anyone. With Shankar sir, it was a dream-come-true project which I never realised when I was actually a part of that film. It was that time when I knew zilch about films and the whole process. I didn’t even speak Tamil then. But now I want to make him proud. At least he will know that I have gotten better.