Nayanthara speaks about Bodyguard

What is your role in Bodyguard?
I play Ammu, a bubbly college student who is the apple of the eye of her wealthy dad played by Thyagarajan sir. She is good at heart and spreads happiness to people around her. Naughty, vibrant and full of life.

Why did you decide to do a Malayalam film while you were riding a wave in Tamil and Telugu?
It was not intentional. When Dileep chettan called up and told me to hear this script from Siddique sir, I did. And trust me; I haven’t been so carried away like this before. Siddique sir is a good story-teller and I listened to the entire script and instantly agreed to do it caring less for the language, dates or remuneration. Such characters comes once in a blue moon and how could I reject it?

The film carries a lot of positive buzz around it. Please comment?
I saw the film and loved it. It is a very simple straightforward film and please go for it without expecting anything big, and you will love it. What I liked about the film is its presentation and let me tell you that what Siddique sir narrated to me is what I see in the movie. All the scenes, comedy and twists are situational and natural.

How was it working with Siddique?
He is such an adorable guy. So grounded, genuine, calm and straightforward. He is patience personified and always smiling even in times of crisis. There is a lot you learn as an actor after working with him. People like him are rare to find these days and even if he calls me for another film, I will shut my eyes and agree to do it without asking questions.

What about Dileep, your hero?
He and Manju chechi are my extended family. He is a good friend too and we vibe well.

How have the songs shaped up? Has Prabhu Deva has choreographed the songs?
Prabhu is a very close friend of Siddique sir and when we decided to shoot an important song which goes with the story, Siddique sir spoke to Prabhu and he agreed if the dates were planned according to his convenience. That’s how he came down to Kerala and we shot two songs- one in Munnar and the other in Kottayam.

So will you be doing more Malayalam films?
It depends on the script. I have been getting lot of offers and when the right time comes, I will not hesitate. Right now, I have signed an off-beat film with director Shyamaprasad.

You are keeping a low profile these days avoiding the media..Is it a deliberate move?
(Smiles).. There is nothing for me to talk. I am very happy that 2010 has started on a good note after Adhurs is a hit and I am so happy to be a part of Bodyguard. Even when I don’t talk, I am dragged into far too many controversies both personally and professionally. Now I prefer to quietly do my work and let my films do the talking.

Billa 2007 sold for Rs. 23 Crore

Billa, released in 1980 with Rajnikanth as hero in a double role, was a remake of the 1978 Hindi film Don, with Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role. Both these films marked the meteoric rise in the careers of their leading men. Don was remade with the same name and released in 2007 with Shah Rukh Khan as hero.

Similarly, Billa 2007 is the remake of the 1980 version directed by Vishnuvardhan and produced by Balaji. The current version is produced by L. Suresh, son of Balaji, who produced the 1980 Billa. This actor of Billa 2007 is ultimate star Ajith Kumar in the roles of Billa and Raja. Nayanthara and Namitha are the female lead roles in the film. Nayanthara will play the role of Sripriya; Namitha will don Praveena's role. Music is composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja. The film's tentative release date is around Diwali. Ajith's Billa 2007 is in the news for a number of reasons.

The story begins with a sadistic underworld don Billa (Ajith) being killed in a police chase. An officer Jai Prakash (Prabhu) substitutes a look alike wastrel Velu (Ajith again) in his place to net the whole gang, whose boss masquerades as an Interpol agent (Rahuman). An avenging belle Nayantara, and an itinerant cop help in nailing the baddies...

Yuvan Shankar Raja's tunes and music are pulsating -- especially the pan-song and the praise for Lord Murugan (filmed excellently around the Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur).

Ajith has tried his best under the circumstances -- in the absence of other props -- purely with the help of motorcar chases and fisticuffs.

The first print ( first copy ) of the flick was sold for Rs. 23 crore

Nayanthara Reached No 1 in Malayalam

Nayanthara is as hot as the Malayalam superstars Mammootty and Mohanlal in Kerala. All her Telugu films dubbed into Malayalam like Lakshmi, Boss, Yogi, Dubai Seenu etc. were purchased at throwaway prices turning out to be hits! Her Tamil Billa became the first Ajit film to collect a distributor's share of over Rs 1 Crore from Kerala!

In fact her swimsuit still from Billa is the hottest pin-up in bars, coffee shops, restaurants etc. Billa has made her a cult figure in Kerala. Her next release Yaaradi Nee Mogini has been sold for Rs 42 lakhs, the highest ever paid for a Dhanush film in Kerala.

After Mohanlal's big budget Rs 4 crore Flash bombed badly at the Kerala box-office, Tommichan Mulakkupadam an NRI and the film's producer snapped up Sathyam with Vishal and Nayanthara for a whopping Rs 60 lakhs! Mulakkupadam feels that Nayan's glamour along with Harris Jayaraj's music and Vishal's dare-devil action is better than investing on a Mohanlal Film!

Last week Mulakkupadam was in Chennai trying to pay an advance and confirm Ajit- Nayan starrer Aegan, for which he is willing to shell out Rs 1 crore for Kerala rights. The trade in Kerala feels it is more profitable to dub any Telugu Nayanthara film or buy a Tamil film rather than make a straight Malayalam film!

This Easter (March 21) weekend Nayanthara’s dubbed version of Thulasi is releasing in Kerala with a record 35 prints! It is being released like a big Malayalam film with cut-out's and vinyl hoardings all over Kerala. Sexy posters (definitely not from Thulasi, a family entertainer) of the hot and happening actress has been pasted all over the state.

It has resulted in two Malayalam films with small stars being postponed to a further date as they do not want to clash with a Nayanthara film which according to the trade "will get a better opening"!
Meanwhile there is tremendous pressure on Nayanthara to do Malayalam films with the superstars. The smart girl that she is, Nayan has done a special dance number in Twenty: 20, being produced by the powerful Malayalam film artists association (AMMA) without whose support her films cannot run in Kerala

Nayanthara becomes ambassador to Chennai Super kings

Ilayathalapathy Vijay and Nayanthara have been signed up to be the brand ambassadors for the Indian Premier League’s Chennai team, Chennai Super Kings, run by India Cements Limited. The team has the logo of a roaring lion and their tagline goes: Fearless entertainers who will play to win.

Vijay and Nayanthara two of the most popular actors in Kollywood, will add glamour to IPL's Twenty: 20 matches. Both of them will endorse Chennai Super Kings, appear on hoardings and in television ads, and will turn up at the matches (played in Chennai, Mohali, Kolkata and Mumbai) to cheer for Dhoni and his team.

Both the stars are riding a wave and are extremely popular in south India. India Cements Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, TNCA President and BCCI Treasurer N Srinivasan, the franchisee owner of Chennai Super Kings has pulled off a coup by getting two of the hottest stars in south to endorse for them.

The market buzz is that Vijay and Nayanthara who have never endorsed before (though Vijay has featured in a Coke commercial before he became a superstar) have been paid a bomb to endorse for Chennai Super Kings.