If there is a bigger and better word for brother, I would use that for him: Dhanush on Anand L Rai

Dhanush is arguably one of the finest actors in Tamil cinema. Known for starring in several blockbusters, the young actor has been ruling the hearts of millions of people for over two decades now.

The actor, who will be seen in ‘Atrangi Re’, talked to a news portal about his return to Bollywood after six years, Aanand L Rai as a brother and the regional content. Excerpts

After the success of ‘Raanjhanaa’ (2013), the audience's expected you to take up more Bollywood projects. With ‘Atrangi Re’, you are returning six years after your last Hindi film outing, ‘Shamitabh’ (2015). What kept you away from Hindi cinema?

Nothing kept me away from Hindi cinema as such. I do a lot of films in the South, so everything should fall into place – meeting the right filmmaker with the right script and having the dates available to allot to that project. Having said that, with the kind of reception I have received for the trailer of ‘Atrangi Re’, I have made a mental note that I should do more films in Bollywood. So, I think you will be seeing more of me here

You are also a producer and director. Do Aanand L Rai’s cinematic sensibilities and approach resonate with you?

Absolutely! If there is a bigger and better word for brother, I would use that for him. We are family. We love each other. I call his wife, bhabhi. However, we make sure that part is not involved in the professional aspect. Work is a different ball game altogether. That’s why we have a healthy relationship.

Not just actors, even regional content is enjoying a much larger audience today…

I don’t think it’s a recent phenomenon. Good content, be it from the South or the North, has always been appreciated. We were just not aware of it. Today, we have exposure. If a Tamil film has done amazingly well and is critically acclaimed, there is a platform for all of us to watch it. The same goes for Bollywood. The world has shrunk. Earlier, nobody would know if a Hindi film was remade in the South or vice versa. That’s not the case anymore.

Dhanush now awaits the release of his upcoming Bollywood movie Atrangi Re. Directed by Aanand L Rai, the film stars Akshay Kumar and Sara Ali Khan in the lead roles. 

The film will premiere on Disney On Hotstar on December 24, 2021