By:
Taran
Adarsh,
IndiaFM
Monday,
April
24,
2006
Raj
Babbar's
son
Arya
Babbar,
who
had
a
high
profile
launch
in
Raj
Kanwar's
Ab
Ke
Baras
opposite
Amrita
Rao,
has
been
signed
to
play
the
third
vital
lead
in
Mani
Ratnam's
Guru.
Abhishek
Bachchan
and
Madhavan
head
the
cast,
while
the
search
for
the
third
lead
was
a
big
suspense.
The
role
is
that
of
Ash's
brother
in
the
film,
who
happens
to
be
Abhishek's
best
friend
as
well.
Is
the
role
substantial
enough?
"Yes,
it's
a
challenging
role," Arya,
who
is
currently
shooting
for
the
film
in
Karnataka,
called
to
say.
"More
than
anything
else,
it's
an
honor
to
work
with
Mani
Sir.
To
be
recognized
by
someone
like
Mani
Sir
and
being
cast
in
his
film
is
no
small
achievement,"
he
sounds
excited.
He
continues
in
the
same
breath,
"The
best
part
is,
I
never
bagged
Guru
through
any
source
or
contact.
I
actually
auditioned
for
the
role
before
it
fell
in
my
lap."
It's
the
first
time
that
Abhishek
and
Arya
are
working
together
in
a
film
project,
although
the
two
families
have
known
each
for
a
long
time
now.
"Abhishek
is
a
warm
guy.
Extremely
helpful.
The
camaraderie
is
like
brothers,"
he
adds.
Things
seem
to
be
picking
up
for
Arya
on
the
career
front.
"I
have
just
finished
shooting
for
a
Hollywood
film
called
The
Partition.
I
portray
a
negative
role
in
this
film,
which
looks
at
the
partition
of
India
in
1947,"
he
divulges.
Co-starring
with
Arya
in
this
film
are
Neve
Campbell
[Wild
Things,
Three
to
Tango]
and
Jimi
Mistry
[The
Guru].