Actress Madhu Shalini, who plays a pivotal role in Kamal Haasan’s Tamil-Telugu thriller Cheekati Rajyam, rubbishes claims that Ram Gopal Varma was instrumental in getting her the role. She says, “In fact my friend Priya Anand, who did English Vinglish, told me that they were looking for someone for this role. She is close to producer Sitara and thus recommended me to her. And since Kamal Haasan is in the film, I was very keen on doing it,” she says, adding, “As an actor I have always been keen to work with Rajini, Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan and all big actors.”
But wasn’t Poonam Kaur shortlisted for the role before she was chosen? “About any other actor being chosen before me… How would I know? Also doesn’t it not sound ridiculous, Ramu recommending my name to someone from Kamal Haasan’s production house?”
While she doesn’t want to discuss much about her role, she says that Gautami had a huge hand in prepping her for the character.
“Since the time I was signed on, she has been grooming my looks, mannerisms etc,” Madhu Shalini says, “She told me how to pose like a simple girl… It’s all thanks to Gautami Ma’am that I have been able to perform the character well.
About working with Kamal Haasan, she says, “Kamal makes his presence felt even when there are many other actors in the same frame; he steals the show without uttering a single line… I have only shared screen space once or twice with him. And for me it was like ‘Oh my God, I am in a film with him.”
Cheekati Rajyam is an adaptation of the 2011 French film Sleepless Night. The film, is directed by Rajesh M. Selva.
