Karthik speaks on Raavan!

By now, we all know that yesteryear heart-throb Karthik is making a comeback in Mani Ratnam’s much-awaited Raavan. “I was absent from the big screen for quite some time and I was looking forward to doing a film with a good director. That’s when I got a call from Mani’s office. I heard the story over the phone and immediately accepted the project. I wanted to concentrate only on Raavan and didn’t want to sign any other film until its release,” the Agni Natchataram actor said to a leading English daily.

“But when I was shooting in Mumbai, Prabhu met me and asked if I could do a role in A. Venkatesh’s Maanja Velu with Arun Vijay. He also screened Malai Malai for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Meanwhile, P. Vasu also approached me for Puli Vesham. Before I realized what was happening, I had signed three beautiful projects! In the Tamil version of Raavan, I play a jovial character, which Govinda will be playing in the Hindi version. In Maanja Velu, I play Arun Vijay’s brother and in Puli Vesham, I play an encounter specialist,” he added.

“Mani and I go a long way back. He’s my brother’s friend and when we did Mouna Raagam, our bond strengthened. In fact, I was a last-minute addition to the cast. I shot for just a week and that too, after the entire film was wrapped up. I still can’t forget the fun I had while filming the Mr. Chandramouli scene, which was shot in a small restaurant in Nungambakkam. People often recalled that dialogue when they had to introduce me on stage at events. When Mani signed me for Raavan, I told him it was my big comeback and thanked him for the opportunity. And Mani shot back, 'Are you crazy? You belong here,' ” the actor recalled.

“I was going through an emotional and financial crisis. I was a complete wreck and couldn’t concentrate. It was partly my fault too. But now, I want to put it all behind and start concentrating on my future. I read reports that my son Gautham will debut in the remake of Alaigal Oivathillai with Radha’s daughter Karthika. But, he’s still in college and has no experience or exposure yet,” Karthik said.