Mani Ratnam’s films have always been a must watch as the filmmaker comes up with a fresh concept in every film of his. This time too Mani has come up with a ‘never-thought-before’ concept.

 

We all know the star cast of his two versions. The Hindi version has Abhishek, Aishwarya and Vikram while the Tamil version has Prithviraj, Aishwarya and Vikram again. What we do not know is that Vikram plays ‘Dev’ in the Hindi version and ‘Beera’ in the Tamil version. It is the first time in Indian cinema that an actor is playing opposite shades in two versions of the same film.

 

An elated Vikram said, “Here(Tamil version) I'm Veera and in Hindi, Dev. I hear that it's the first time in the world that an actor simultaneously plays two diametrically different roles in two languages of the same film.” Speaking about his role in Hindi, he said, "In Hindi my presence has been kept under wraps as of now. I'm the proverbial dark horse." Revealing that the movie is going to be released in Telugu as wee, the actor says, “Audiences in Andhra are bound to be floored by the subject.”

 

Working with Mani ratnam was a dream come true for the actor. He says, “You know, I used to think one film each with Mani Ratnam and Shankar and I wouldn't mind retiring in that blaze of glory.” It would be interesting to know that Vikram went through a screen-test for Mani Ratnam’s ‘Bombay’ released in 1995. The lead character, however, was played by Arvind Swamy.

 

Interestingly, although it is being called Vikram’s Launch pad in Bollywood, it may not be fully true as Vikram’s ‘Anniyan’(Tamil) was dubbed and released as ‘Aparichit’ in Hindi. The film of course did not do well as it lacked the bollywood essence. Vikram, however, feels that this is his first Hindi film indeed. He says, “ Though Aparichit didn't do too well, it's been telecast over 17 times so far. Yet Raavan is my first Hindi film.”

 

When asked how he pulled off the two characters of Beera and Dev, considering the fact that the shooting took place simultanously for both versions, the actor says,“I've played little tricks with my body language and expressions and they should work,” he smiles cryptically. “I'm like a bull in one version — tough, rugged and a man who lives for the moment. In the other, my character is poetic, philosophical, fun loving… just about everything.” Asked about his look for the Hindi version, he said, “Surely not the clean shaven look. I don't intend to look like other heroes. I've plumped for a close hair-cut and moustache. “