Actor Arjun Das, who is gearing up for the release of Once More, has described the upcoming romantic drama as a “love letter to Mani sir”, referring to filmmaker Mani Ratnam. Speaking at the film’s trailer launch event, Arjun also opened up about his decision to take up a softer, romance-driven role after being associated with films featuring intense and violent characters.
“When Srikanth narrated the story to me, it was a very clean, beautiful and realistic emotional drama. There is healing in it. There is hope,” Arjun said, explaining what drew him to the film. The actor revealed that he had often been asked when he would move away from roles involving violence. Recalling an interaction with an elderly woman at a theatre, he said, “She came up to me and said, ‘Please do a film without blood, cuts, stabbings and knives.’ So, this is for that woman, and for many other people.”
According to Arjun, Once More was also an opportunity to explore romance without the toxicity often associated with commercial love stories. “This is a very clean film. There is no abusive language. There is no toxicity. It respects women,” he said. The actor was particularly appreciative of his co-stars Aditi Shankar and Sona Olickal, calling the two actors the “pillars” of the film. He also credited them with making him comfortable while portraying a romantic character.
“I always had this doubt — should I do a romantic film or not? Everyone kept saying, ‘Romance, romance,’ and I started feeling a little pressured. I was wondering whether I could pull it off. But the support both of them gave me, and the way they made me feel comfortable, helped tremendously,” Arjun said.
He added that the roles played by Aditi and Sona were crucial to his character, Raghu. “If these two weren’t there, I definitely wouldn’t have been able to pull off Raghu’s character completely,” he said. Describing the film’s tone, Arjun said it is a “beautiful, cute and romantic love story” and summed up its connection to Mani Ratnam with a succinct statement: “Once More is Srikanth’s love letter to Mani sir.”
Directed by Vignesh Srikanth, Once More stars Arjun Das, Aditi Shankar and Sona Olickal. The film is slated to hit theatres on August 28.
