Being star-struck is one thing, but to be star-struck by a person you grew up watching, is another. Sivakarthikeyan is one such person. His growth from a stand-up comedian contestant to a reality dance show competitor, to an anchor, a supporting character and now a bonafide actor, Sivakarthikeyan, has already been talked about. In line with steadfast progress in his artistry, comes upcoming film Amaran, a biopic on late Major Mukund Varadarajan, directed by Rajkumar Periyasamy and produced by Kamal Haasan and R Mahendran under Raaj Kamal Films International. The film might be his maiden real-life character, but that didn’t leave Sivakarthikeyan from feeling related to the role, whose father was a cop.

“There are a lot of resemblances, in terms of scenes and characters. Perhaps, the qualities of being an officer, which is why I wanted to do this role and made it a little easier as well. Appa was a jail superintendent. I have visited him several times and witnessed both his hard and easy days. For the past 21 years, I have been living with only his memories, and these are what I get to remember him by. I had the opportunity to be like my father in this film,” says the actor.

Sivakarthikeyan Interview for Amaran

Sivakarthikeyan and team Amaran shot the film in Kashmir, and in places where Mukund was deployed during his service time. “In fact, we had to travel from our rooms to shooting spots via Pulwama where the attack took place. Kashmir, in the morning, is very peaceful and full of tourists. Whereas a few places where we shot are sensitive and we had three-tier protection. Sometimes, even an actual military operation would have been going on. Which is why the trailer also looked realistic,” Sivakarthikeyan recalls.

For shooting, the team used real weapons. Sivakarthikeyan reveals that while they had used dummy guns for firing sequences, while for other shots, real ones were used. He continues, “In fact, the real guns were easier to handle and lighter than the dummy guns we use for cinema. We shot inside the Rashtriya Rifles squad, and all the off-duty officers from Tamil Nadu had come around to see us. It is also this team that goes out for action. In one such scenario as we were shooting, they had got an intel and gone for a fight. Those in Rashtriya Rifles, it is unpredictable when they will be called and will they survive or not. One would require a great amount of mental strength to be in that squad.”

Sivakarthikeyan, being from a police officer’s household, recalls how since childhood, events like flag-hoisting has been part of his lifestyle has grown on to him as a practise that he still does every year. “It started off as a childish interest to eat sweets after flag hoisting at the place were appa worked. But later, it got transformed into attraction and patriotism. I had gone to Major Saravanan’s last rites in Tiruchy, and I was in school. I had shared this long back with director Rajkumar, and he had kept a dialogue in memory of him, in Amaran.”

Becoming Major Mukund Varadarajan

While Sivakarthikeyan took his father’s reference for body language, he conversed with Mukund’s colleagues to get a hang of his behaviour. “Unlike most military men who are stoic-faced, he wasn’t like that. He had all the emotions. He had a jovial side as well, and we had shown that as well. Amaran is more of a journey about this man, rather than about a single operation.”

In fact, Sivakarthikeyan also reveals how after hearing the story of Mukund who came from a middle-class background, and had many relatable factors with the actor himself. “In fact, we had a screening for the Army people recently, and I was very much in fear to get their acceptance. But after the interval, one of the officers said I was in the wrong profession. After the film got over, they had offered me a chance to accept an offer. That is my biggest award.”

The actor says that he felt Amaran could break his boundaries and make him explore more. Revealing that Rajkumar never bothered about the strengths, but asked Sivakarthikeyan to only bring the connect between him and the audience, the actor praises the detailing in the scripts. “I think my strength now is that I can daringly explore more arenas of acting. Amaran is an emotional journey of a soldier. Had this film been just about an operation, I would not have done it. Since all age groups will come to watch the film, I think the film will cater to that. Of course, there is no dance, fun elements, but it is my attempt to present myself in different way.”

The weight of “thuppaki”

Sivakarthikeyan, who was last seen making a cameo appearance in The GOAT, in which he appeared alongside Vijay, talks about the reception and aftermath of it. “Every person has a journey here and Vijay sir also has one. Even though he had come from a film background, the way he changed himself and his journey cannot be replaced. He is now going after bigger responsibility but his place cannot be replaced.”

Coming back to Amaran, the film whose ending is predictable, Sivakarthikeyan says, “The end is from where the film began. But we have treated it a bit differently. Amaran will have a heart-wrenching climax for sure.” The actor also goes on to talk about his co-star Sai Pallavi, who plays Indhu Rebecca Varghese, Mukund’s wife. “While every artist approaches a role, she sees how to approach a shot. She is very clear on what films she chooses and is steady on to do only what she likes. Sai Pallavi also has cult fans following her.”

Concluding this conversation, Sivakarthikeyan says that he is at peace and satisfaction after doing a film about a man who had been loyal and sincere to his country.

Amaran hits theatres on October 31.  

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