Vishnu Manchu, the Tollywood actor currently enjoying the buzz around his pan-India film Kannappa, recently spoke his heart out during an interview with India Today. While Kannappa brings together stars like Akshay Kumar, Mohanlal, Mohan Babu, Prabhas and more in impactful cameo appearances, Vishnu reflected on how big names should choose meaningful roles, pointing at the 2001 film Asoka starring Shah Rukh Khan and Ajith Kumar.
In a candid moment, Vishnu shared that he was disappointed to see Tamil superstar Ajith Kumar play a small part in the 2001 Bollywood film Asoka, where Shah Rukh Khan played the lead. “For example, Mr Ajith (Kumar), one of the biggest superstars in India, did a role in Asoka with Shah Rukh Khan,” Vishnu said, adding that he personally conveyed his feelings to Ajith when they met. “I had the opportunity to talk to him. In fact, I told him in the early stages, ‘Anna, I was disappointed you did such a small role.’ He just smiled and stayed quiet.”
The actor known for speaking his mind, also opened up about his selective approach toward Bollywood. He mentioned that although he received offers for Hindi films in the past, none of the roles excited him enough. “A long time ago, I was approached, but the roles didn’t excite me much,” he explained.
Vishnu stressed how important it is to respect the love and support of fans by picking projects that matter. “See, we all aspire to be top actors – respected actors. And whatever following or fan base I have, I’ve built it with a lot of love. I have to respect that. I can’t take my fans for granted.” Referring back to the example of Ajith Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan’s Asoka, he emphasized, “I can’t just come and do a random character. It has to be something that really excites me. I can’t be selfish and say, ‘I’ll do what I want, whether they like it or not.’”
Asoka directed by Santosh Sivan, featured Shah Rukh Khan as the emperor Ashoka with Ajith Kumar in a supporting role as his half-brother Sushima. The film also starred Kareena Kapoor and Danny Denzongpa. While Ajith’s role was brief, it left a lasting impression on Vishnu Manchu for different reasons.
On the work front, Vishnu’s Kannappa released on June 27. Directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, the film narrates the powerful story of an atheist hunter who becomes a devoted follower of Lord Shiva.
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The post Ajith Kumar’s Small Role Opposite Shah Rukh Khan In Asoka Was “Disappointing”, Says ‘Kannappa’ Actor Vishnu Manchu appeared first on India’s Favourite Entertainment Network Since 1987 - Lehren.
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