Manoranjan gets fit for Chillum

Till last month, actor Manoranjan wore medium-sized shirts. This week, he needs a large. This is thanks to all the working out he has been doing at the gym. But it’s not a six-pack or eight-pack look, insists Manoranjan, who feels that they are not in vogue anymore.

The transformation is for his upcoming film, Chillum, which goes on floors next week. The film, directed by a woman director, J Chandrakala, comes with an interesting star cast -- Raghavendra Rajkumar, who is making a come back as a villain, senior actor Saritha, Bollywood actor Nana Patekar, and Priyanka Thimmesh, who plays the female lead.

While the shooting will kickstart on Monday, Manoranjan is expected to join the sets from Wednesday. The actor, who took 45 days to get himself fit for the role, went in for his look test yesterday. He’s said to be trying out different looks, and the final one will be revealed on May 30, which, incidentally, is his father’s birthday.

Meanwhile, in conversation with Cinema Express Manoranjan tells us that the journey has been exciting. “This is the first time I am doing so much research and homework for a character. When the director said they required a bulked up body, I asked for 45 days to achieve the desired look, especially since I also needed to grow a beard. I’ve sort of reached the target,” he says.
 

The actor tells us that this particular lead role has some negative shades to it. This was why he was required to bulk up his physique. “The machoness isn’t just in the look, it is in the body language of the protagonist in Chillum. Punchy dialogues have also been included in the role,” he adds.

He is quite happy with the outcome. “I had a ligament tear, and couldn’t gym for a month. But at the end of it, I feel that the effort I’ve put in has paid-off,” he tells us. Manoranjan has always preferred the lean look. So, every time he looks into the mirror, he’s still to come to terms with his macho makeover.

“The difference is that now I wear a large, while medium is what I required previously,” he laughs, adding, “For a while now, my fans were demanding this macho look.”

The team, will begin shooting in Bengaluru, after which they will head to Goa for the rest of the shooting schedule. The film’s music is by Nobin Paul and cinematography by Naveen Kumar.