Actor Manoj Bharathiraja is excited about playing a journalist in his next movie — the Shanthnu-starrer Vaaimai. “When director Senthil Kumar approached me, I accepted it because I have always wanted to play something different like this,” he says. The Taj Mahal star, who was last seen in his dad’s film Annakodi, says, he’s looking forward to the next phase in his career.
“I am not a hero material, and I am here to do only performance-oriented roles,” he clarifies, and adds he might not be a hero but is definitely a good actor. When asked if he chose to stay off the screen deliberately, Manoj says that things didn’t work out well. “Yes, I strongly believe in luck and time. I still feel good opportunities haven’t come my way,” Manoj tells us.
Talking about another film in which he plays a father of two kids, previously titled Baby, he says the script revolves around the life of the family members. “Although it is a ghost story, it has a sentimental family drama attached to it. I liked the script, it had me totally engrossed,” he smiles.
When asked about his upcoming projects, Manoj says his goal is to make big as a director. “Born to an ace filmmaker, I think direction has always been on cards. I love Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and of course my dad. Even as an actor, I always paid attention to the making of the film and scripts,” he says.
“Appa has always regretted the fact that I couldn’t be a renowned actor. As a guru, he has moulded several actors in Kollywood. Frankly speaking, acting was never my first choice; but direction has been,” he says.
What about the rumours about him directing a sequel to the Kamal-Sridevi starrer Sigappu Rojakkal? “I can’t say yes or no to this, but it is surely not a sequel. I will announce something big in two months,” he signs off.
