We’ve heard many stories of actors undergoing physical transformations to play a character. But has anyone heard of an actor actually getting the shape of his teeth changed to look like the character he is playing?
This is what Madhavan did to bear a faultless resemblance to scientist Nambi Narayanan.
Those who have seen the film are raving about the uncanny likeness between the real and reel Narayanan.
When real Nambi Narayanan saw Madhavan playing Nambi Narayanan on the sets he thought he was looking at his mirror image.
Says Madhavan, “It took me six years of research to get to know the man and another two years to undergo the physical changes that were needed for me to look like Narayanan. For me getting into the skin of the character was as important as getting the physicality right. I think actors who claim that looking physically close to the characters they play, is not important,are just being lazy.”
Madhavan went to savage limits to look like Namabi Narayanan. “My weight went up to 96 kgs while I was playing the older Nambi Sir. That paunch that you see on screen is not a pillow. A lot of people think it is fake. Which isa backhanded compliment, really. They can’t believe any actor would gain so much weight for a role and then lose it all .My family was really worried about how I will lose all that weight. I did not resort to any crash diet. I didn’t starve myself to lose weight. I did it organically and naturally and I was back in shape in just fourteen days.”
But for Nambi Narayanan Madhavan was willing to do anything. “His story had to be told, and told authentically. I was willing to make any sacrifice that the role needed.”
Now after seeing Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, spectators are speechless. They are wondering about Madhavan’s directorial acumen. This doesn’t look like his directorial debut.
“Well, I have been observing masters like Mani Ratnam and Raju Hirani at work. Kuch toh seekha hai itne saalon mein(I must have learnt something from them).”
