Ajith and Nayanthara in Kazakhstan

Ajith's Aegan is progressing rapidly. This film, which is the debut directorial venture for choreographer and actor Raju Sundaram, has generated enough hype already. Aegan is shot in different locations. News about the filming of stunt scenes in Hong Kong has already generated a strong sense of curiosity among fans. Moreover, the unit had earlier shot a few scenes in Visakapatham before heading to Yercaud, where they have been camping for more than a fortnight. It was also revealed that the team intends to go to Thekkady to shoot a song sequence with Nayanthara and Ajith. Now, the latest buzz in the industry is that they plan to travel all the way to Kazakhstan to can another song sequence with the lead pair. With the filming progressing in different locales, can we expect a feast for the eye?

Ajit back in Yercaud!

Ajit is back on location of Aegan in Yercaud, after a whirlwind 72 hours trip to Cannes and back!

The man is incredible as he wanted to be present at the Billa screening in Cannes on Sunday and provide moral support to his director Vishnuvardhan.

Ajit was in Cannes for less than 14 hours as he flew in on Saturday late night to the festival city, visited the venues next day morning and in the afternoon was there at the screening. In the evening he packed his bags, and flew back to Chennai, and from the airport he drove down to Yercaud.

The man’s commitment to his work is remarkable, as he was shooting by Tuesday morning with Nayanthara at a prestigious private school in Yercaud.

The school authorities have let out the school for shooting during the summer holidays. The entire shoot in that location had to be completed before the school reopens after the holidays.

Prabhu Deva’s dancing lesson to Ajith

Ultimate star Ajith and screen scorcher Nayanthara are busy with Aegan that is being shot in Yercaud. Directed by Raju Sundaram, Aegan will have a dance sequence that will be choreographed by his brother Prabhu Deva. An established director of his own right, Prabhu Deva also has quite a few prestigious projects lined-up. Though busy with his own ventures, Prabhu decided to help brother Raju, which incidentally happens to be the latter’s debut directorial venture, out of sheer brotherly affection, says industry sources. But before that, Prabhu Deva will fly down to Kazakhstan along with executive producer Arun Pandian to decide on the locales for his own unnamed venture, which has Vijay and Nayan in the lead roles. Director of Moscowin Cauvery, Ravi Varman, will wield the camera and Devi Sri Prasad will score the music. It is expected that Prabhu will choreograph the dance sequence in Tekkady as soon as he returns to India.

The ultimate star

In our eagerness to please others, we often find it difficult to say no, even though we may badly want to do so.

But for actor Ajith Kumar, saying no when he needs to is among the best and most useful things that he has learnt in his life so far. “Learn to say no when it ought to be said,” says he, “if not, people will walk all over you.”

From Prerna Pustagam (1992) till the latest Billa, this ability to keep his professional life separate from his personal life is what has shaped and moulded him. The brash and impulsive person that Kollywood saw ten years ago during the Ullasam and Raasi days has made way for a mature and dignified individual, who has his head placed firmly on his shoulders.

For the average fan, Ajith's films can usually be divided into three genres — commercial cinema (Tirupathi, Attagasam are examples), character cinema (Vaali, Varalaaru are examples) and soft cinema (Poovellam Un Vaasam, Mugavari for examples). The last film Billa seemed a major deviation from the routine. Was it intentional? “I am not a cinema pundit. We just wanted the remake to please people from all walks of life.” Refreshingly different from his peers, the lack of a certain propaganda in his actions stands out. “I don't judge. I am not opinionated. I don’t generalise.”

Billa was billed as a giant leap in the league of crisp, stylish film-making in Tamil cinema. If Shah Rukh Khan was the ideal Don in the Hindi version, Ajith seemed to be the best bet for director Vishnuvardhan when he decided to remake the erstwhile Raijni-starrer with stylish, classy elements.

There is something philosophical about him these days. Positive energy and silence play important roles in his life. “For the last two years, I have learnt to ward off negativity from my life. I want to keep my life simple and not bite more than I can chew.” He says he has been influenced positively by a lot of people in the last few years, including Superstar Rajinikanth.

Citing examples like Raja, Jana and Anjaneya, we ask him if has a problem choosing the subjects he works on. “I've done many films that are trash but have done well. My priority while selecting a movie is the compatibility I share with the team,” adds Ajith, who is currently working on Aegan.

After Ajith finishes the day’s shoot and returns home, he usually refrains from watching other movies. “I like to switch off after the day’s shoot. Acting is just my profession,” he stresses. Once a year, he leaves the city and tours interesting places in the world, doing things like a normal human being without being mobbed. “My job is not different from anybody else's. I'm very careful not to be influenced by my on-screen character once the shoot is over... that would be dangerous.”

Now that he has firmly established his place in the Tamil film industry, does he have a plan for the road ahead? “I have survived 17 years in this line; it shouldn't be difficult to survive five more,” he says, "I look ahead on only what is visually ahead of me. Imagine you are taking a trip by road from Chennai to Coimbatore; the destination city might not be in sight but to reach there is your aim. You can only plan as far as you can see ahead.”

“The values and the beliefs I have are stronger than other people’s desire to influence those very values and beliefs,” he signs off. Thala Pola Varuma indeed !

Vishnu to direct Billa again - Exclusive!!!

Director Vishnuvardhan seems to have struck gold. If one is to believe the rumours doing the rounds in Kollywood, the director has been signed by Warner Brothers and Soundarya Rajnikanth's Ocher Studios for their next project, a sequel to Billa.

Vishnuvardhan is at the moment directing the film Sarvam, which has Arya and Trisha in the lead and the director will be taking up the Warner Brothers' project after completing this film.

Sources in the industry suggest that Ajit will be the hero of the film while the heroine hasn't been decided yet. Sources also claim that the director is to be paid a whopping Rs 3 crore for his work. Way to go Vishnu!

Billa 2 - Officially confirmed by Ocher Studios!!!

The Superstar's daughter is so impressed with Billa, which skyrocketed Rajini's fame, that she is planning a sequel to the film and is currently trying to rope in the crew of Billa 2007 for Billa

‘BILLA is a magical movie with a wonderful script,' says Soundarya Rajinikanth, who recently announced her decision to make a sequel to the movie. Speaking exclusively to the Expresso, the MD of Ocher Studios announced that it was the movie's script that led her to plan a sequel. It must be remembered, it was Billa that skyrocketed Rajini's fame in 1980.

"I have discussed the plan to do a sequel with my father. He is aware of it and said he was happy," she says, adding that the movie has nothing to do with him than being a sequel to his yesteryear hit.

Billa turned to be an equally important movie for Ajith as well, who scaled new heights after its release. He is currently in Cannes, along with director Vishnuvard han, where the movie will be shown on May 18 at the film festival.

Billa 2007 featured Namitha and Nayantara along with Ajith. Though the crew for Billa II has not been finalised, Soundarya says efforts are on to retain the original Billa team for the sequel as well. "It makes sense to have the same team that did Billa as it will lend a semblance of continuity to the movie.

But only Ajith has agreed and been finalised till now," she explains. Ocher Studios will produce the movie, in association with Warner Bros.

Meanwhile, Soundarya is busy with Ocher Studios' first movie Sultan The Warrior, a full-length animated feature film that will also have an animated version of Rajinikanth in the lead role. "The movie is getting completed at a quick pace and we're looking at finishing it by the year-end, in order to be able to release it by April 14, 2009. Work for Billa II will not begin before June 2009," she added. Ajith is also working on Aegan, directed by Raju Sundaram.

Ajith Kumar heads for Cannes

Tamil actor Ajith Kumar is headed for Cannes where his movie Billa will be screened.

"Kumar is sure of a grand reception for the movie when it will be screened May 18 in Grey Three screen. Probably, this is the only movie in the world re-made thrice," the actor's publicist said.

Made in Hindi starring Amitabh Bachchan in 1978 as Don - it has had three remakes. The first in Tamil as Billa starring Rajnikanth, later in original title in Hindi starring Shah Rukh Khan and finally in Tamil again featuring Ajith Kumar.

Film personalities familiar with Cannes pointed out that a multiple remake will have more than a curiosity value there.

Since the movie resuscitated his career, Kumar is bearing the costs of an all-expenses-paid holiday in the French Riviera for the Billa team, which is set to fly to Paris Saturday, his publicist added.

Movie distribution major Moser Baer will have a stall at Cannes following the interest generated for its products last year.

Another Cannes' hopeful is PL Thenappan, another remake specialist.

This producer, whose Tamil success Priyasakhi remade in Hindi with Salman Khan as Shaadi Karke Phans Gaye Yaar was noticed, expects a good international market for his future projects following the critically acclaimed Kerala state award winner Punarjani starring Mohan Lal's son Pranav.

Billa at Habitat and Cannes Film Festivals

Billa was screened in the Habitat Film Festival in Delhi. It is a film festival held annually where the best of the best Indian regional movies are selected and screened.

Speaking to Galatta, L. Suresh of Ananda Pictures said he was elated at his film being selected for Habitat Film Festival. He said that he rushed to the Delhi on May 8, 2008 to participate in the screening. Billa was screened on May 9, 2008 at 6.00 p.m. to a packed audience, which also consisted of many famous film personalities from all over India. Suresh said that the film was very well-received by the audience.

His happiness does not end there. Billa is also selected to be screened in Cannes Film Festival, where the best of the best films from all over the world are screened and honoured. He said that it is a great honour for him and was very thankful for Vishnu Vardhan, who directed this movie and Ajith, the man who carried the movie on his shoulders. He said that he will leave for Cannes in a day along with Ajith and Vishnu Vardhan to attend this screening.

The 61st Cannes Film Festival will run from May 14th to May 25th.

Ajith Fans in High Sprits

Soundarya Rajnikanth the younger daughter of the superstar is ready to roll out her forthcoming venture titled Billa 2. This film will be produced at a whooping cost of Rs.30 crores and this project will take off in 2009 after Ajith fulfills his commitment with Shivaji Productions. This will also be the first venture of Warner Brothers after tying up with Ocher Studios the production firm of Soundarya. Warner Bros. Pictures India has entered into an exclusive multi-picture deal with Soundarya Rajnikanth’s Ocher Studios. The pact covers the production and distribution of Live-Action South Indian language films to be released by Warner Bros.

When Soundarya conceived the idea of making Biila2, Rajnikanth himself had suggested that Ajith would be the right choice to do the lead role. The film would be directed by Vishnuvardhan, who wielded megaphone for Billa remake. Ajith has been paid an astounding amount Rs.10 crores for this venture. So ‘thala’ has now become the highest paid actor in Tamil cinema after Rajnikanth. This film will be a sequel to Billa.

Ajith’s in Aegan shooting - Exclusive

Ajith was seen in Yercaud shooting for Aegan. The fight sequences involving this actor are being shot here. As the news about Ajith’s shooting spread, a huge crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of their favourite actor. But the mood of crowd became euphoric when they came close to their favourite star. Since there was no security cordon, they thronged the actor. Some even tripped and fell over him, which made Ajith to lose his balance and fall down. Thankfully, the actor was not injured. He was very gentle and nice to his fans, and accepted their apologies for what happened. There was not an iota of anger on his face. Instead he had a calm smile.

It is indeed commendable behaviour from Ajith. It only shows how much he respects his fans and how much down-to-earth he is.

After this incident, tight security was provided for Ajith the next day and the fans were well behaved. A lot of them were shouting Ajith’s name. When the actor was done with his work and was about to leave, he had a small interaction with the fans. He answered their questions, asking a youthful bunch in the crowd about their profession. They replied in unison that they are students of a local college. He advised them to take their career seriously and be assiduous in their studies, and not to be bogged by petty shortcomings of life. The fans cheered every sentence of his.

Then, when they asked him about his next project, he replied that after Aegan, he will do a film for Goutham Menon under Sivaji Productions. He also told them that he was very much impressed with a story that Lingusamy told him recently and is contemplating working in it.