Vishal-Nayan Hot Photo Gallery in Sathyam

The change is apparent. In his ramrod-straight physique and his new confidence. Six-footer Vishal is ready to go shirtless and show off his six-pack abs in his forthcoming cop film Sathyam.

One of Kollywood’s famous downsizing stories in recent times, Vishal’s lean-mean look is clearly the result of sweat. “It called for a totally new routine,” rewinds the actor. “My role demanded such a demeanour. Since I play an assistant commissioner of police, I wanted to look like a cop — an absolutely fit one at that. So workouts became an essential part of my routine. Besides, there’s a scene in which I go shirtless, so I had to get ready for that.”

Though not someone to be hit by pre-release angst, Vishal admits he’s quite anxious about Sathyam. “For the past 18 months my life revolved around the film that’s slated for release on August 14. A lot is at stake. This is my biggest film so far — in terms of canvas, technical expertise and budget. Besides, it’s a bilingual. It’s my first straight Telugu film. The very look of Sathyam is slick. It’s mounted on a grand scale like a Shankar film. There’s art by Thota Tharini, visual effects by Hollywood experts and music by Harris Jayaraj. Director Rajashekar’s hard work shows in every scene.”

Divulging details, he continues, “There’s a never-seen-before car chase sequence that lasts for eight minutes. It’s a crucial part of the film. There’s another scene shot at the Dubai airport in which Kannada star Upendra, who plays the villain, chases the hero. These are portions where you can’t tell if it’s visual effects or real! I was bored of my usual fist fights. So we had to try out different action sequences. Besides, there are so many misgivings about encounters in cop films. Sathyam digs out the truth.”

Talk about action being his forte, and Vishal says earnestly, “It’s not that I want to do only action flicks. I’m just choosing from the best that’s offered to me. Post-Sandakozhi, which ran to packed halls for 210 days, I wanted to capitalise on my strong points. Thimiru followed, and it looked like action was something the audience expected of me. Though I tried comedy in Malaikotai and soaked in family sentiment in Tamiraparani, action was the core of these scripts too.

Incidentally, Sathyam is something that came to him immediately after Sandakozhi. “But I didn’t take it up then. I felt I needed to fine-tune my histrionics and fine-tone my physique. I’ve done tremendous homework for my role in Sathyam. I picked up inputs about body language, etc., from top cop C. Sylendra Babu. I can’t afford to mess up.”

Vishal, who started off as an assistant director before turning actor, says, “It helps to have that kind of a background, because you know what a director expects. My chemistry with my directors is often better than that with my heroines (laughs). But I can be a nuisance sometimes. I poke my nose into a lot of things — right from the coconut that’s bought for the puja.”

Though a star of some consequence today, Vishal’s heart still beats for direction. He will soon direct his dream film on a superhero — to be played by him. “I love fantasy characters. The South must have its own superhero. I’m working on the script. If it does well, there will be sequels too.”

Vishal, who is in no hurry to sign films, says, “I’ll be doing Udayanidhi Stalin’s forthcoming film. I’d rather take one film at a time and go slow than goof up. Today, an actor kills himself for his role. You have to be a thorough-bred. But the pressure is good. It keeps you on your feet. Tinseldom today is like a garden. A new flower blooms every day. There’s no room for complacency. Either you are a somebody or a nobody.” Source: hindu

Cast: Vishal, Nayanthara, Upendra, Premji Gangai Amaran
Music: Harris Jayaraj
Direction: Rajasekhar
Production: Vikram Krishna

Kuselan Movie Photo Gallery - More

Actress Nayanthara in Kuselan Movie Photo Gallery

The shoot for Rajinikanth’s ‘Kuselan’ completed. The year 2008 saw remakes such as Yaaradi Nee Mohini and Santosh Subramanium making it big at the box office. Malayalam movie Katha Parayumbol is now being remade as Kuselan,starring Rajnikant.

According to the latest buzz in the industry, the next movie in the remake line is Malayalam superhit Meesa Madhavan, directed by Lal Jose. To be directed by Prabhakaran, the movie will feature Paruthiveeran-fame Karthi and Nayantara in the lead. It is said to hit the floors after Nayantara finishes her current movies Sathyam and Aegan, and Karthi his Ayirathil Oruvan.

Director K. Balachander’s Kavithalaya, along with Seven Arts, is producing the film, the Tamil remake of Malayalam hit ‘Katha Parayumpol.’

Rajinikanth plays the role of the superstar, while Pasupathy acts as a barber.

Meena plays the wife of the barber, while Nayanthara pairs with Rajinikanth. Actor Prabhu, too, plays an important role. According to Mr. Vasu, shooting for both Tamil and Telugu versions of the film is over. “We have shot for nearly 81 days, and I must give credit to my cameraman Aravind Krishna for his speedy work.

Actress Meenakshi Photo Gallery

Pretty actress Meenakshi, who made a dream debut in Karan-starrer Karuppasamy Kuthigaitharar, has turned on her glamourous side.

Meenakshi who is not familiar with wearing half sari or sari found it challenging to wear one in her debut movie. Now she is back to her favorite attire, modern clothes in her upcoming movies Perumal and Rajathi Raja.

Meenakshi is also a busy model besides appearing in films.

Actress Malavika Photo Gallery in Kartheegai Movie

Actress Malavika, who has charged Anjaneyulu, the producer of the film “Kartheegai”, with trying to molest her during the film’s shooting in Hyderabad last week, has been sacked and is to be sued by the producer for Rs. 75-lakh damages.

Veera, who directs the film, announcing that Malavika has been removed from the film, said another top actress would take her place. He would not disclose the name of the actress replacing Malavika.

He said the charges leveled by Malavika against the producer are baseless and she would be sued for Rs 75-lakh damages for causing financial loss and mental agony.

Rajini cartoon to feature live action

The Rs two billion cartoon extravaganza Sultan the Warrior will also feature superstar Rajinikanth in live action, publicists said.

“The superstar’s live action will appeal to all sections of the audience and not just children,”sources said.Meanwhile, a number of actresses have been pipped to play a role opposite Rajini in the movie, but nothing has been finalised yet.

The movie with animated Rajinikanth playing the main protagonist is being produced jointly by the actor’s daughter Soundarya Rajnikanth owned Ocher Studios and Warner Brothers. Source: timesofindia.indiatimes

Why the daughter is THe Boss

Sondarya Rajnikant talks to SUDHISH KAMATHabout growing up, her family, her superstar father and much, much more

Photos Sunder

calling the shots Sondarya Rajnikant

What if you are Superstar’s biggest fan and you got a chance to live with him all your life? And then you grow up, dream big

and get a chance to direct him in your very first movie — a $10 million baby with Adlabs? And, though he’s your father, here

you are telling him what to do and calling the shots.

And, apart from being among the hottest single eligible women in the city, you’ve signed an exclusive motion picture

production deal with Warner Bros., a deal with Westland Books for two books including a biography on the Superstar himself,

and are helming Ocher Studios, a three-year-old company that executes about 40 per cent of the market’s animation and visual

effects projects in this part of the world.

All of this, on your own, without a single rupee from him. Well, that much success when you are still twenty-something

usually adds a few kilos to the weight of your head. But not her. Sondarya Rajnikant travels light.

So when she breezes in sporting sunglasses, a rudraksh around her neck, a smart deep blue semi-formal shirt buttoned down

with jeans to sit down for an interview without a prepared speech or notes to read from, you are impressed. It’s a style

statement that incorporates fashion, spirituality, simplicity, business and casualness.

Just back after her first experience shooting for her own film in Vietnam (she spent 40 days shooting the action sequences

including a war scene with international stuntmen) and ahead of leaving to Hyderabad to shoot with her Dad for “Sultan”, she

seems to be in a mood to open up about her company, her private life and family.

“The shooting is strictly for reference. What we shoot, we edit and then motion-capture,” she explains. “I expect perfection.

So even if we could shoot just one guy and replicate it for an army, we shot with 100 guys. Just for reference.”

She’s certain “Sultan” is going to break new grounds in animation. “We’re attempting something as realistic as “Beowulf”.

I’ve always been interested in visual effects and I knew I wanted to direct but I didn’t want to do the usual things. Why

travel the road already taken? I have always felt that everybody has looked at India as an outsourcing hub. But it’s time we

produce content that’s as good as Japanese or Chinese content.”

Sondarya recalls how her 18-month-old dream was originally conceived as ‘Superstar’ and then titled ‘Hara’.

“The main character is still called Hara. We know Hariharan is Ayyappan. But we’re releasing in Hindi and the people at

Adlabs told us they would say ‘Haara’ (as in flop). So I told this to Appa, he took a minute to think over it and said: Call

it Sultan. It’s universal for a story about a warrior.”

Being the youngest in the company where all, but one, employees are less than 40 years old, Sondarya says she’s never had a

problem with responsibility. “I was Cul-Sec (Cultural Secretary) in school, I was class leader... In the university too, I’ve

been the group head. I have always been the person who leads, never the one who follows.”

Being a leader needs vision and Sondarya can see far enough, her self-belief further vindicated when she convinced Warner

Bros. to sign along the dotted line. “It was a lot of work but we signed the third time we met.”
On the state of films

Every other hero wants to be Superstar. But isn’t her Dad responsible for this himself? Creating an iconic status so

desirable that everybody wants to get there.

“Yes, he’s responsible,” she laughs. “The most aped part is how he walks swiftly towards the camera… Everybody is doing it.

He’s an inspiration but there can be only one Rajnikant. We are going through a phase where it is easy to get into films but

the question is how many films are you going to last? That’s why I say the script is the hero. We’re trying to do films with

good scripts, not necessarily hero-centric films. We’re trying to cover a market that’s not been touched. We’re starting

production on Venkat Prabhu’s “Goa” in October. We want to encourage performing actors, different genres… not aruva all the

time. Everybody wants to be a don like Baasha, everybody wants 10 people to walk behind them. We hope we can change that.”

SONDARYA'S FAVOURITES

Genre – Fantasy

Films — “Lion King”, “Thalapathy”, “Roja”, “Shrek”, “Finding Nemo”, “Annamalai”, “Lagaan”, “Dil Chahta Hai”, “Gladiator”,

“Last Samurai”.
Filmmakers — Mani Ratnam, Steven Spielberg, Clint Eastwood.

GROWING UP - THE PERSONAL STORY

My father used to do 14 films in a year though now he does one every three years. My mother never made us feel his absence.

My sister and I used to fight a lot. For clothes, in particular. Mother had to come and separate us.

We are very close. Mother insisted we stayed in the same room. After Aishwarya got married, it took time for us to accept it.

That first night when she wasn’t at home, that was the time I realised how much I missed her. I called her and cried.

The best experience growing up was when we took off to see the World Cup in London. We love watching cricket as a family. You

should see my Dad cheer India. He’s out there standing and whistling. It was cold but we never took flights. We insisted on

taking trains. We wanted to see the countryside.

You know how my Dad is. We were raised to live simple. So even when you know you can have what you want, you are happy with

what you have. I’m not saying I don’t splurge. I’m obsessed with Aviator frames (sunglasses). I have the same thing in

different colours. When I took Appa to Brussels for a body scan to Eyetronics (the company that did 3D scanning for Brad Pitt

for “Troy” and Johnny Depp for “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”), we were there for 20 days. On the way back, we stopped

in London and I took my Dad shopping. He’s the best shopping companion I’ve had. He never complained and I was like a

princess just buying whatever I wanted and he was carrying all the bags. I took pictures of him carrying the bags thinking

‘That’s Rajnikant, carrying luggage for his daughter.’ He’s a fun dad.

Appa can’t walk on the road the way he does in London. We do go out. I do get recognised. When people come and talk to you,

we don’t look at it as interference. It doesn’t reach a point where it becomes a nuisance.

But can I go and sit at Zaras? No, I can’t.