'Nayak is for a world-class audience'

Anil Kapoor is keen to act in films in Tamil and Malayalam.

The actor, who was in Bangalore as part of the promotional campaign for his new film Nayak - The Real Hero, a remake of Tamil film, Mudhalvan, says he would act in Tamil and Malayalam if he got opportunities from good directors.

''I made my debut in the South by acting in Telugu (a remake of the Kannada film Vamsavriksha) and then in Kannada (Pallavi Anupallavi),'' he recalls.

Defending his decision to remake the film, Anil Kapoor, who plays the role of a television journalist in Nayak, said the soul of the work had been retained.

''It has been made for a world-class audience.A few changes were made as the film has Maharashtra as its backdrop, while the original version was shot in Tamil Nadu. The songs have been revamped too.''

The National Award winner said he had adopted the mannerisms of three successful television anchors -- Prannoy Roy, Rajat Sharma and Karan Thapar -- for his role. ''I adopted the niceness and warmth of Prannoy Roy, Rajat Sharma's poker face and aggressiveness of Karan Thapar.''

Nayak will hit the marquee on September 7.

Anil said the film dealt with the criminalisation of politics and the expoitation of religion for political motives.

The superstar also came down heavily on the Tamil Nadu authorities for their highhanded action against media personnel in the past couple of months.

''It is disheartening to watch media personnel being attacked while discharging their duty,'' he said. ''I watched the clippings on television channels. You can't fight physically. The State and Central Governments should do something to check attacks on media personnel," he added.

His next venture with Satish Kaushik would see full corporatisation. ''All payments will be made through cheques. It will be insured and the accounts will be crystal clear," the actor said referring to recent allegations about underworld financing the films.

UNI