On debuting in Hindi films with Raavan:
I am thrilled. The film is a bilingual, made in Hindi and Tamil, with a dubbed version in Telugu.

On essaying the role of a mythological figure like Lord Ram in your first Hindi film:
In the Tamil and Hindi versions, I play different characters. In the Tamil version, I play the protagonist, while in the Hindi version I play the antagonist. The roles are challenging and required immense work on my looks and voice.

On working with director Mani Ratnam:
He is one of the best directors in Hindi and Tamil films today. We have known each other for the last eight years and wanted to work together but never got an opportunity until now. Working with him, I realised that Mani has everything well planned.

Is it true that since your role dominated Abhishek Bachchan’s, there are plans to shoot the film again for 30 days?
These are baseless rumours. There is no reason to shoot again as Mani is happy with what he has got. Raavan is a huge film that has been shot in diverse locations. Six months were spent on planning the film before going on the floors. Moreover, shooting in a forest requires the permission of the Forest Department, which takes time to procure. Getting an ensemble cast was not easy either. The film has mostly big names and busy actors from Hindi and Tamil films like Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Govinda, Prithviraj, Manisha Koirala and Nikhil Dwivedi. It is not easy to re-work their schedules to shoot again.

... contd.