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For Jackie a leap from don to aghori

The actor, in the city shooting for his upcoming flick Paandi Muni where he essays an Aghori named Muneeswaran in noted Kasthoori Raja's direction.

Bollywood’s stylish star Jackie Shroff returns to K’town. His last outing in Tamil was the 2017 Maayavan. The actor, in the city shooting for his upcoming flick Paandi Muni where he essays an Aghori named Muneeswaran in noted Kasthoori Raja’s direction.

“My Tamil debut Aaranya Kaandam, where I essayed an ageing don won many national awards and gave me an identity, is special to me. Now, working in Paandi Muni seems like a self-retrospection”, the Rangeela actor quips while talking to DC about the role of an aghori, his real life experiences with them and how he refrained from indulgences like smoking while working for the movie.

Friendships with Aghoris: I have met Aghoris in my personal life and am friends with them. Once an Aghori came to my house and he wanted money to go Kumbh and renounce worldly life. I gave him the money and he went there and today he is a big sadhu there. He sent me photos as well which I have preserved.

Preparations: My intensity is his (Kasthoori Raja) dream. I am just his puppet. I have no worries. First time I saw him I was relaxed. If I have a problem, it is his problem as well. Whatever he said I just did. I trusted him two hundred percent.

We are working on this script for the last six years and living with that Muni character for long. For the makeup, it took about half an hour or so.

Portraying an Aghori sadhu was like doing meditation: Fortunately, I don’t drink or eat meat in real life. The only indulgence for me was smoking. I am largely trying to give it up as children get affected watching me.

How about Paan? Paan is beautiful; it has astringent, calcium, lime, alkaline, which are good for health. Supari is a blood thinner. There’s nothing wrong in taking Paan.

Dubbing own voice for Paandi Muni: I can understand Tamil to some extent. My director wants me to dub my own voice, which would add to the intensity of my character. I am going give it a try (smiles).

On Tamil industry: A lot of people liked Aaranya Kaandam. The director Thyagaraja Kumararaja is too good. Dhoom 3 happened because of AK, where I essayed a very powerful role. And even my producer Aditya Chopra was recalling Aaranya Kaandam while working. Also, I had a strong villain role in Aurangazeb.

Chennai Connection: I have lots of friends from Chennai like Rajinikanth as we have worked together in a movie and Haasini, Revathy, Prabhu, Kushbhu, Poornima and I make it a point to be present on the occasion of 80s reunion. I am fond of idlis and everyone will send homemade food including rasam whenever I am here.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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