Jayam Ravi: Mani Ratnam said "It's now or never" when he approached us to make Ponniyin Selvan

The actor turned emotional while interacting with press in Bengaluru recently

Jayam Ravi

When makers of Ponniyin Selvan announced that Jayam Ravi will be playing the role of Arunmozhi Varman in the movie, some of the cinephiles raised their eyebrows as they were skeptical of the team's choice. However, with his poised, yet majestic screen presence, the actor proved them wrong in the first part of the franchise.

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As the second part is gearing up for a huge release in a few hours, one of the reasons many film buffs look forward to the magnum opus is the presence of Ravi as the Chola king.

The actor said that the mammoth effort of the team would have made no sense if not for the perseverance of Mani Ratnam. Ravi says he could go on talking about the filmmaker for at least two years. "Mani sir said "It's now or never" when he approached us to make Ponniyin Selvan," he remembers and thanks the audience for making the first installment a huge hit.

He adds, "There were people who came to theatres to watch the movie with the help of wheelchairs and walking sticks. We felt gratified that the effort we put in for 150 days made sense. This time around, Karthi kept on instilling confidence in us saying that both the novel and PS 1 are hits and that PS 2 will also enjoy success."

Talking about his co-stars, Ravi says he has immense respect for Aishwarya Lekshmi for the guts and dedication she showcased while shooting a scene involving an elephant. It is the infectious energy in Vikram which he is fond of. "Be it on shooting spot or during promotions, it is very difficult to match his speed. Sometimes, he works like an AD behind the camera," he notes.

All praise for Sobhita's hard work, he says she is too intelligent and that her thoughts remind him of poems. According to him, it is Trisha who keeps him encouraging while he feels low. Karthi for him is more than a brother and a friend. "He is my soulmate; he oozes positive buzz. I am someone who happily enjoys his films on screen," Ravi smiles.

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Heaping praise on the conviction of Lyca Productions which bankrolled the project along with Madras Talkies, Ravi says, "Entertainment industry was one of the worst affected during COVID times. I was in awe of the calculation which Lyca had in their minds while deciding to release this franchise in two parts."

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