By Anand J [Email: Cine@monsoonjournal.com]
[MonsoonJournal.com] Actor-turned-director Venkat Prabhu has made a mark for himself as a successful director with Chennai 600028. The movie on Gully Cricket has gone on to become a big hit. Several offers to wield the megaphone have come knocking to Venkat Prabhu’s doors. But the young 
director has chosen to go on a wait and watch mode. He is currently acting in Seeman’s Vazhthukal. Asked why back to acting, Venkat Prabhu says, “I play a meaty role in the movie. Directed by Seeman insisted that I do the pivotal role in Vazhthukal”. “Since he had tremendous faith in my acting credentials, he gave me the offer to act along side Madhavan. I could not resist the offer”.
Sandhya is one of the young heroines in Tamil, who is keen to do varied roles. The actress says, “I am not interested in the routine heroine running around trees and romancing the hero. I want to portray different characters and leave a mark for myself in the industry”. Sandhya is currently shooting for 
Kannamoochi Enada opposite Prithviraj, Thoondil along side Shaam, Manjal Veyyil with Prasanna. Sandhya will commence shooting for director Selvaraghavan’s forthcoming film Malai Nerathu Mayakkam with Paruthiveeran fame Karthi this month-end. She says, “I consider myself lucky to do different roles after Kadhal. Movies including Dishoom, Koodal Nagar and Vallavan had enough scope for me to prove my acting skills”.
Telugu super star Chiranjeevi’s son Ramcharan Theja is making his foray to filmdom. The young lad is currently shooting for a Telugu film. Close on the heels of the movie’s completion, plans are on to introduce Ramcharan Theja in 
Kollywood. Chiranjeevi has approached director Lingusamy for the job. The latter, who completed Bheema starring Vikram recently, would direct a bi-lingual (to be made in Tamil and Telugu simultaneously). It would features Ramcharan Theja in the lead role. Search for the rest of the cast and crew are on.
Shriya is a rage in Kollywood. Her Sivaji: The Boss opposite Rajnikanth has witnessed a bumper opening. She is equally thrilled for her Hindi venture Awarapan opposite Emraan 
Hashmi which opened recently across the globe last week. “I accepted Awarapan because I was convinced of its strong storyline, the director and the reputed production house. They have a history of making sensitive films that have become hits. Their female characters are well etched. After the success of my films in the South, I needed a film that could parallel my position there. I think I have made the right decision”. She is thrilled for she has been assigned to act in Sangeet Sivan’s Ek -The Power of One opposite Bobby Deol and two Tamil films Kandasamy opposite Vikram and Azhagiya Tamil Magan with Vijay.
Sridevi and Kamal Haasan were considered the lucky pair in Tami cinema in late 1980s and early 1990s. The two had come together to render several blockbusters then. After 
Dasavatharam’ is complete, buzz is that Kamal will act in a film to be directed by P Vasu. It is said Vasu is trying to sign on Sridevi for that. However the actress, who is married to Bollywood producer Boney Kapoor, does not seem to be interested in acting again. Efforts are on to convince her. Meanwhile, Vasu has been roped into play a prominent role in Dasavatharam.
Eagerly expecting the release of Billa is not only Ajith, but also Nayantara. Hoping that the film will turn a new leaf in her career, Nayantara anticipates that more offers would come in her way once Billa gets released. “Billa is the best crew that I have worked so far. Everything was organized and planned. 
Director Vishnuvardhan was always cool and good at extracting work from others. It is like a picnic for me since this is one of my longest abroad schedules”, says Nayantara, when asked about Billa. On dancing in Balelakka with Superstar Rajnikanth in Sivaji, the actress says, “My mobile is continuously ringing after the release of Sivaji as my friends and fans are complimenting me for sharing screen again with Rajnikanth”.
Veteran actress Jayapradha is making a comeback in Tamil cinema after a long gap. The yesteryear heroine had won accolades for her roles in movies including Ninaithalae Inikum 
and Salangai Oli opposite Kamal Haasan. The beautiful lady is playing a prominent role in Kamal Haasan’s Dasavatharam. No sooner the news of Jayapradha making a comeback in Tamil filmdom spread, then several producers made a beeline to her. However Jayapradha has chosen not to do any more Tamils films now. According to her, “I accepted to act in Dasavatharam, since it was Kamalji’s film. He is one of the actors, whom I admire a lot. I watched him at very close quarters and admired him a lot. I readily agreed when Kamal Haasan approached me”.
After Rajnikanth and Kamal Haasan, Ajith and Vijay are considered the money-spinners in Kollywood. Movies starring Ajith and Vijay have never failed to rake in moolah at the box 
office. Both the prominent actors of Tamil cinema were spellbound after watching Rajnikanth’s Sivaji. Ajith, who is currently shooting for Billa, a remake of Rajnikanth’s yesteryear blockbuster, watched Sivaji at Kuala Lumpur in an exclusive premiere along with Malaysian Minister Datho Samuvel. Impressed with movie, he heaped laurels on both Rajnikanth and Shankar. Vijay managed to watch the movie at Prasad Labs in Hyderabad along with the likes of Mahesh Babu and others. Spellbound by the looks of Rajnikanth, Vijay poured encomiums on Rajnikanth and said that he admired Rajnikanth in every frame.
Silambarasan, called Little Super Star in the industry, is currently shooting at Theni for Kaalai. He watched the movie at a theatre in Theni and was highly impressed.