Releasing this Friday is one of the most expensive films ever made in Indian cinema. We are talking about the over 150 crore Robot, which boasts a cast of South superstar Rajnikanth paired with one of THE actresses of Hindi films Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Directed by Shankar, the film was made in Tamil, Telegu and Hindi and all three versions will release simultaneously on October 1st. Apparently theaters have all ready sold out all over India and the film is expected to once again be a Rajini huge blockbuster.
In an earlier interview director Shankar described the story, “Rajini plays a dual role in Robot. One is a scientist Vaseegaran and the other is a Robot called Chitti. The scientist Rajini creates an android man with artificial intelligence – like that of sixth sense in humans – which looks exactly like him and behaves like a human to help mankind. But the robot later acquires more human characters. He, through technical upgrades becomes almost human. It falls in love with Aishwarya Rai and writes romantic poems besides doing many other things. Knowing about the extraordinary intelligence of the Robot, the villains led by Danny Denzongpa try to get control of the Robot. Scientist Rajini then fights to save the Robot falling into the hands of the enemies and destroys the evil forces using the Robot itself.”
This is the second time Aishwarya has worked with the director, the first time was in Jeans. In an interview with IANS Aishwarya talked about working with Shankar saying, “He had to experiment with a lot of things during Jeans and for the first time I was experiencing something like that. He at that point of time brought in that much of technically forward thinking in cinema; I kind of learnt a lot about making a film at that time and, of course, over the years I learnt more. Jeans itself was so ahead of its time and here [with Robot] he has pushed it manifold; so, obviously, it becomes more fascinating and intriguing.”
About why she choose to take on the role as Sana, ‘a live wire’ in Robot, she said, “My criteria is the director I am working with, the film, the character, and what I can give to my audience and hopefully a different Aishwarya each time.”
She says she had a memorable experience working with Rajnikanth, “Just like everyone I had seen and read about his work. We have enjoyed his work as an audience. So to actually get to see him in person every day and see how simply he does it has been an experience. The way he quietly comes to the set and surprises you with his shots, just brings a smile to your face, which is wonderful.”
The actress is excited for the release of the film and says that it has that Shankar touch of magic and entertainment, “I felt that in all his movies with every other new thing, he never forgets the common man. He keeps in mind how a layman would be humoured, what will be entertaining for the common man and what will be the sense of fantasy for the common man. He brings all those elements in his cinema and more. That’s why probably you know you would call entertainment as his signature.”
Robot opens Friday, October 1st!
