Chatrapathi

Accepting to shoot for 'Chatrapathi' was not a very wise decision. The story I was told and what they finally shot were very different. Result - in this project I'm as good as the furniture lying in the background.

The only good thing that happened out of this film is that I made lots of friends and met Sarath Kumar. Everyone should get to know him. He is one of the very few smart, well read and charismatic heros I've seen. He is also friendly and very humourous.

The entire unit was very friendly. The Director was making a comeback after 10 long years and this was the producer's 2nd film. In this project I also met a man who could dwarf me. Jasper is my height (6'4") but weighs 160kgs. He is a mountain in motion.

Halfway through this film I had to cut my hair because I had accepted another 2 projects. Some portions of the climax has me in a wig, but one can hardly make out.

This is the movie where I have that famous dance with 'Rambha'; a take off on the hindi 'Babuji' that featured 'Yana Gupta'. During the shoot we had poured quite a bit of wine down her appendage, but the final edit that made it to the theatres has got just a glimpse. The producer was worried that the Censor Board would have a problem watching me slurp. Unfortunately the version of the song that is shown on television has the wine pouring bit edited out, hence only those who went to the theatres have seen me doing the act. I must add now that it was NOT AT ALL fun. The interior of the studio was eaisly 45 degrees centigrade with all the lights and the humidity was unbearable. It was like sitting in a sauna - sweaty. Sarath Kumar was intent on knowing how the wine tasted. Verdict - SALTY.

I started shooting for this movie at the end of April 2004. It was initially slated for release on the 15th of August 2004. After a painfully long period of bookings and cancellations the movie finally made it to the theatres on Diwali day 2004.