Vignesh Shivan, fresh off the release of his long-delayed LIK (Love Insurance Kompany), has opened up about casting Seeman in the role of Pradeep Ranganathan's father in the film.
Speaking to Behindwoods, Vignesh started by saying that he had a very different image of Seeman before working with him. "I thoroughly enjoyed working with him. We initially assumed that, as a politician, he might bring that tone onto a film set, but he surprised us by showing us his director side. He was incredibly warm and accommodating. When we were shooting at the Isha Centre in Coimbatore, where non-vegetarian food isn’t permitted, he thoughtfully arranged for chicken and other non-veg dishes for us outside the premises," he explained.
On how Seeman wrote his lines for his character in the film, Vignesh continued, "While I had written his lines, I encouraged him to improvise using his command of Tamil. In one scene where his character responds in Tamil to an argument made in English, he even wrote his own lines based on an idea I shared. There were also a few moments where his character was teased, and I was initially hesitant—but he insisted, saying, ‘I’ve come here to act, and I play a father in this film, so keep those scenes as they are.’"
Vignesh also said that Seeman was the perfect fit for the role because he practises environmental conservation in real life, too. "He was truly the perfect fit for the role, especially since his real-life advocacy for returning to nature aligns so well with the film’s theme. During the montage sequences depicting the organic world, he even suggested that we speak to plants and trees—something he personally practises," the Naanum Rowdy Dhaan director shared.
Vignesh Shivan's LIK also stars SJ Suryah, Krithi Shetty, Gouri Kishan, Yogi Babu, and more. The film revolves around a man’s search for love in a world where relationships have become increasingly techno-centric and transactional.
In its first week, LIK has earned nearly Rs 34 crores in India alone, with its worldwide gross nearing Rs 50 crores. However, the film opened to mixed reviews. Music composer Anirudh has once again reunited with director Vignesh for LIK. The crew of the film also includes Ravi Varman as the director of photography and Pradeep E Ragav as the editor.
