Action King Arjun reminisces over his experience of meeting Manisha Koirala, with whom he collaborated 16 years ago for the blockbuster Mudhalvan in Shankar’s direction. Now, the two are coming together again for a thriller film Oru Melliya Kodu (OMK) directed by AMR Ramesh.
Here are edited excerpts from the interview:
Daughter Aishwarya made me sign OMK: When Ramesh approached me with this cop’s role, I first said ‘no’ as I have played many police characters. After hearing the narration, I felt there was something new in this cop, and was in two minds whether to accept it or not. I asked my daughter to hear the script, to get the younger generation’s perspective. She said it was quite innovative, and told me to go ahead confidently.
It is not about Sunanda Pushkar's life: When we don’t know what’s her story and the case is still under investigation, these are baseless rumours. Manisha could not recognise me: I visited her when she came out of her illness (cancer) in Mumbai. She could not recognise me for long, despite me going, ‘it is me, your co-star Arjun!’ She said she could not believe it, because I was looking the same as when we did Mudhalvan 16 years ago — and asked me the secret of my youth. I replied, ‘let me wish you, and give the bouquet — and we will have one more session for this question!’ (laughs)
Manisha, the apt choice for OMK: When I heard the script, I told Ramesh that Manisha would be apt to play the mature character in OMK. He asked my help to approach her. I called her and asked her to hear the script — that’s how it all started. There are not many combination scenes between us though!
‘To look good’ is an investment: We actors are being paid to look good on screen. So be it with the diet, exercise, or meditation, the thought that ‘one should look good’ is an investment as far as I am concerned. Also, you should have fear and respect towards your profession — that will keep you fit.
Yet another cop role in my next film: I am donning a cop’s outfit once again in Arun Vaidyanathan’s film. But he is also a distinctive policeman!
Directing his daughter: So far, you have seen me wielding the megaphone for patriotic themes. This movie where my daughter plays the lead will be a romantic film, in which we’re launching a new hero.
Constructing Anjaneya temple, a one-of-its-kind in the world: The Anjaneya temple’s infrastructure is getting ready. We are planning to do the consecration by year-end. It is carved from a single stone, which weighs 180 tons and is 28 and half feet high. I am also carving a kutti Anjaneya on the temple premises, which is hand-chiselled.
