'Uttama Villain' the story of an actor: Kamal Haasan

Chennai, March 25 , 2015: Actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan says that his upcoming Tamil movie "Uttama Villain", in which he plays a superstar and an eighth century theatre artiste, is the story of an actor. He also clarified that it isn't a "satire on the film industry". "It's the story of an actor; a superstar with and without a mask. All those who have asked me whether this is the story of my life, I'd like say all my stories have some part of me," Kamal told IANS. Directed by actor Ramesh Arvind, the film features Haasan's mentor and late legendary filmmaker K. Balachander (KB) in an important role. "I've always wished to work with him (KB). For many years, he dodged opportunities to act but this time around, I finally managed to convince him. He plays a very important role of a director called Margadarshi," Kamal said, and added that Balachander is the common thread between the two stories in the movie. Kamal said Balachander was reluctant to be part of the film, citing health reasons and that he had forewarned the team. "He had asked what we'd do if he passed away in the middle. He reminded us several times about our decision to cast him and that we were making a mistake. I told him if at all anything happens, I'd change the story and complete the film," he added. "As soon as we finished shooting for the film, he rushed us to do the dubbing. When he fell ill and was hospitalised, I was mixing the film in the US. When I asked him should I leave and come visit him, he told me to finish all pending work and then return," he said. For Haasan, "Uttama Villain" is an "important" and "unforgettable" film. More importantly, it will be a "good film", he assured.