Pooja Kumar to romance Mohanlal in Peruchazhi

Pooja Kumar to romance Mohanlal in Peruchazhi

South actress Pooja Kumar of Viswaroopam fame will be making her Mollywood debut opposite Mohanlal through the satiric comedy Peruchazhi, to be directed by Arun Vaidyanathan.

The American Indian actress will be playing Mohanlal's heroine in the film, which is also set in the US.

Pooja Kumar to romance Mohanlal in Peruchazhi

"Pooja plays someone like herself in Peruchazhi, who is born and brought up in the US," says a source close to the film. Besides Pooja, Aju Varghese and Baburaj have also joined the cast of Peruchazhi. The film will apparently be a treat for Mohanlal fans, as several old hit songs of the actor, like Pichapapoonkavukalkkumappuram (No:20 Madras Mail) and Karutha Penne (Thenmavin Kombathu) will be incorporated in it.

"It will be a suspense as to how the songs become a part of the film," says the source. Peruchazhi will see Mohanlal playing a fun loving character, who finds himself embroiled in all kinds of messy situations.

A producer, model and television hostess, Pooja is a former Miss India USA and has been a VJ, a newsreader and has starred in films like Kaadhal Rojave, Anjaana Anjaani, Night of Henna, Flavors, Hiding Divya, Bollywood Beats and Anything For You. The actress is currently working for the Tamil and Hindi versions of Kamal Haasan's Viswaroopam 2.

Vijay is like my younger brother: Mohanlal

Jilla has already racked up expectations with two of the biggest stars in the south Mohanlal and Vijay teaming up for the first time. Mohanlal is all praise for his younger co-star. "I have known Vijay earlier. We have met each other at a few functions but never had the opportunity to interact frequently. I feel that he is my younger brother," says Mohanlal.

He also explains that now he understands the reason behind Vijay's ever-expanding fan base. "He's a nice and endearing human being. I respect and love him a lot because he's so downto-earth. Now I'm not surprised with the huge fan following he has not only in Tamil Nadu but in Kerala too," says Mohanlal, further adding that his vocabulary is at a loss to truly express what he feels about his co-star.
Incidentally, the actor, whose previous Tamil venture was with Kamal Haasan in Unnaipol Oruvan, is more than thrilled about being back in Kollywood; and that too, in a movie with another superstar. "For me, Vijay is the boy-next-door, who has created a niche for himself in the industry. I'm sure that this project was destined to happen."

Mohanlal confirms his presence in Peruchaazhi

With a flurry of projects being announced in his name, Mollywood superstar Mohanlal had taken to a social networking site to clear the air and announce the two projects he's committed to this year — a Tamil film with Kollywood star Vijay scheduled to start in May, besides a Malayalam project he will start working on before he commences work on the Tamil film.

However, the announcement triggered a fresh wave of rumours, what with Kollywood director Arun Vaidyanathan having announced his directorial debut in Malayalam, Peruchaazhi, will have Mohanlal in the lead. Now, to put to rest all the buzz, the actor has taken to the social networking site again, wherein he confirms being a part of the film.

Quiz Arun about the film and the Achchamundu! Achchamundu! director tells us, "I've always been a huge fan of Mohanlal and he does comedy like no one else can. Though, it's been a while since he did a full-length comic caper. Peruchaazhi, which is primarily set in the US, is an out and out comedy and only Mohanlal can do complete justice to the role he is cast in the film," he says, adding, "The film will have a heroine from the US. No one has been finalised and discussions are still on."

While Arun has done the script in Tamil, a source tells us that English writer Ajayan is working on the translation. While the crew maintains that the rest of the cast is yet to be finalised, we've learnt that Mukesh has also been roped in for the film. Our source says, "Each time Mohanlal and Mukesh have teamed up, we've had some rib-tickling comedy, be it Boeing Boeing, Vandanam or the more recent Arabiyum, Ottakavum, P Madhavan Nairum. The shooting will start by this year-end once the pre-production work and visa formalities are completed. In the meanwhile, Arun will also do his next Tamil film, the official announcement of which is expected to be made by the second week of April."