Andrew Louis, who directed Leelai in 2012, is back with a thriller, Kolaigaran, starring Vijay Antony and Arjun in the lead. The filmmaker tells CE, "Vijay and I did visual communication at Loyola. Though we were in touch, we never thought of working together though Vijay would keep asking me what I was up to. Post-Leelai, I wrote three scripts, and felt this one would be apt for him. He was thrilled and assured me we would collaborate as soon as he listened to the narration."

Andrew says he did not write the film for Vijay Antony. "But even when narrating it, I told him to imagine Arjun was the other lead. Thankfully, when I approached Arjun, he okayed the script without any qualms. It's not a typical hero-villain subject; either of them could be kolaigaran. Arjun a hero nu paatha hero, villain nu paatha villain. And that's all I can reveal as of now," he smiles. 

Did he approach Arjun post the success of Irumbu Thirai? "No, we got him on board before that," says Andrew, who has started shooting Arjun's portions in the city. "It's a full-on urban-based story, which will be shot completely in Chennai. For songs alone, we may go abroad."

On roping in Ashima, who will be debuting in Tamil cinema with Kolaigaran, as the heroine, Louis elaborates, "She's an Indian, who has won International beauty pagents, but is settled in Australia. We were scouting for a fresh face, and stumbled upon her profile on social media. Vijay, too, felt she was appropriate for the role. How the story connects the lives of Vijay Antony, Arjun and Ashmia forms the story of Kolaigaran."

Our sources say Ashima will play an innocent girl from Hyderabad in the film, and will start shooting for her portions after June 15.