It was fun shooting for Irandam Ulagam: Arya

For Arya, Irandam Ulagam is a kind of film that he has not done before. Be it the characterisations of his roles, the novelty of the script or the locations in which he���s shot, the actor says there was never a dull moment while working on this film. ���In our Georgia schedule, we shot at this place called Datlo; it���s about a seven-hour drive from Telavi.Civilization ends at this point ���we had no electricity, no hot water, and in minus four degrees, we all huddled together in a hut, with just one restroom per hut, on location throughout the entire schedule. Despite these practical difficulties, we had so much fun shooting,��� he recalls.
This film took almost two years to complete���
The story is such that it needed a long schedule and a longer production time. It is about a guy who travels to another world for love.
What was running through your mind when Selvaraghavan narrated the story to you?
It���s one of those scripts that amaze you when you listen to it. But making it into a film on the celluloid is a very difficult job. I told Selva it���s a very novel thought, but it���s easier said than done. And he told me to trust him and his instincts. And I believed him as soon as we started shooting. For instance, there���s a scene in which I had to fight a lion. While shooting, I had to imagine there was lion in front of me, and the crew used to shout out cues ��� there���s the lion pouncing on you and attacking you. I would emote according to it. When I saw the final output, I couldn���t tell the lion was not real. The film will be a visual experience for the audience.
You play two characters that are totally opposite in nature���
Yes, one is that of a young student who also teaches. He���s soft-spoken, innocent, hardworking and loyal. He gets intimidated by almost everything under the sun. And the other guy is strong, but dumb. I thought he somehow looks like the Hulk (smiles). I was able to pull off both the roles because Selva was clear about what he wanted from me.
He apparently counted the six-pack on your body every day���
(Laughs) To differentiate between the two characters, we decided to make the ���guy in the other world��� hefty, with well-defined features. So, I had to bulk up and build muscles. I went on a protein diet, gave up carbohydrates completely and worked out like crazy while I was in the country. Once we left for Georgia, I had no means to exercise. So, the strict diet regimen helped me. While shooting, I avoided drinking water because it would fill up the empty spaces in the body and make me look puffy. So every day, Selva would ask me to take off my shirt to make sure my body was well-defined.
You chemistry with Anushka is much spoken about���
That���s because we share a healthy working relationship. Plus, Irandam Ulagam is a complete love story. Besides, she learnt sword-fighting for this film. Actually, there���s a fight sequence between us.
Irandam Ulagam, produced by Param V Potluri for PVP Cinema and presented by Pearl V Potluri, will release in Tamil and Telugu on November 22.