The Producer's Council election in Chennai is like any other election is the country. The campaigning and vote-hankering is as intense as in any election. Tamil actor Vishal played an active role in this campaigning and asked his friend Malayalam actor Munna Simon to help him with the campaign and join him during his visits. Munna happily agreed and the pair travelled in bikes to dingy lanes and by lanes canvassing for votes. Incidentally, renowned Tamil director Gautham Menon was contesting for the vice-president's post and Munna observed aspiring actors asking Gautham for a chance.
Munna says, “Good or bad, I am not in the habit of asking anybody for a role. It could be because I am worried about their reaction if I asked and the concerned person said ‘no’. Or it could be that I don't want directors to avoid me brushing me aside as a chance seeker.”
Anyway, Gautham won the post and at the swearing-in ceremony, Munna did ask for something – a selfie, but Gautham's reply left him astounded. “What is the need of a selfie when I will meet you at the set of my
film?” Munna was in for another surprise when the director called him on his birthday and wished him personally.
Munna still remembers the date when Gautham called to keep his promise – May 7. “Gautham sir called me and told me that he had a good character in mind for me and asked whether I would be open to doing it. I replied immediately that for any film of his, my answer would always be a yes!” The film Munna is talking about is the big-budget Tamil film Dhruva Natchathiram with Vikram, Aishwarya Rajesh and Ritu Varma in the lead. The film is a spy thriller and Munna plays the role of one of Vikram's team members.
The shooting was like a working holiday for Munna. He recollects, “Gautham asked me if I had a passport and I thought we would be travelling to just one country.” But Munna and team travelled to seven different locations including Slovenia, Bulgaria, Austria, Turkey and Jordan. “The biggest takeaway for me is that I got to travel to so many places and work with Gautham sir and Vikram. Even when I had no shooting, I would help with the production process.” That gave good returns. He will be assisting Gautham in another project of his Enai Noki Paayum Thotta, though he won't be acting in it.
Munna was last seen in Mollywood in the experimental film Test paper. He will also be seen in the upcoming film Gandhinagarile Unniyarcha. Ups and downs have been a part of Munna’s life, but he is in a happy space now. “I have got another offer in Tamil and I feel I am in safe hands now.” The star is also practising cricket for the CCL edition which will begin next year.
