Dhanush is a talented actor, tell Russo Brothers; highlights from The Gray Man Indian premiere

Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo of Avengers: Endgame fame, the thriller, which will stream on Netflix tomorrow, is based on the book series, The Gray Man, by Mark Greaney.

Dhanush at The Gray Man Indian premiere; Russo Brothers/Twitter

In Mumbai, The Gray Man had its Indian premiere. Along with Dhanush, Jacqueline Fernandez and Vicky Kaushal, the film's directors Anthony Russo and Joseph Russo attended.

“India is one of the most vibrant places on earth. Dhanush is a talented actor. It was our passion for cinema that led us to India,” Anthony said before the premiere.

Next, Joe stated, “We have a large team of stunt choreographers we work with. Now and then, we like to check out what's happening around the world. We are inspired by filmmakers and performers. Then, we reached out to Dhanush, and he graciously accepted the film.”

Anthony Russo, on his part, said, Chris Evans was a joy to work with for many years. “He showed us what he's capable of. Evans has done something different from his role in Captain America. With Dhanush too, we have seen what he can do, and we hope to do more with him in the future. Also, interpreted the villain through a certain form of extremism rampant in the world.”

Dhanush, who sported a traditional veshti and shirt, said he was surprised they (the Russo brothers) knew about him at the premiere. “Whenever I spoke with the team, I asked how Russos knew about me. The question had been nagging at me for a long time. They have an amazing sense of clarity and are focused on what they want. Until they get what they want, they won't let you go.”

The Gray Man marks Dhanush's debut in Hollywood. The actor has previously featured in 2018’s English-language movie, The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir, directed by Ken Scott.

On playing Avik San in The Gray Man, Dhanush said it was fun to play the baddie. “There was scope to perform. The Russo brothers gave me a beautiful backstory for my character. He comes from a poor background and has worked his way up to being the best at what he does. My character is an assassin and a brutal murderer, but has his own ethics. At his core, he's a man of honour.”

Further, Dhanush added he surrenders himself to the filmmakers. “Aanand L Rai is here and I'm a great fan of his work. He found me for Raanjhanaa. Those in the Tamil industry questioned why I was taking such a risk. I wanted to experiment, take chances, and take risks. I listen to what they have to say and add my own spin.”

Dhanush had done action in the past, but working on The Gray Man was a different experience altogether. “I thought I had done 50 films, and knew about stunts; whereas I was wrong. With this one, the brothers guided me step by step on the action and I felt like an actual pro. I had solid fun!”

The Gray Man, starring Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jessica Henwick, Rege-Jean Page, Wagner Moura, and Julia Butters, will be available on Netflix on July 22. It is based on Mark Greaney's 2009 novel of the same name.

Meanwhile, Dhanush has Thiruchitrambalam, Naane Varuven and Vaathi lined up for release.

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