I dedicate Billa to the Super Star - ajith kumar

By: Settu Shankar
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
After a long gap, the ultimate star, ajith kumar, met the representatives of the media and bared his heart out. Playing the true sportsman, he faced all kinds of questions with ease, and struck an excellent rapport with the pressmen present there. The first question was about the remake of Billa, a Rajini starrer blockbuster of yesteryears.

What is the motive behind the remake? The original version still looks fresh and has its own viewers, will the remake click in the box office? Is it that the present directors' creativity has deserted them, or they lack confidence in their own themes?
ajith kumar's reply was mint cool for this fiery question. 'First I would like to make one thing clear; Billa is the remake of the Hindi hit Don and the same has been remade again with Shah Rukh Khan. That also became a mega hit in Bollywood. In Tamil, Billa was a trend setter, and still lakhs of people enjoy the movie with the same spirit. I know the risks involved in the remake of such a blockbuster. But I hope that the remake will not create a dent in the original's reputation. The new Billa is dedicated to the evergreen superstar of Tamil cinema Rajinikanth. You will realize how much care we have taken in this project, especially since I have chosen to dedicate a film to such a great personality.

It was some time ago, that you vowed that your ultimate target is to win the throne of the Super Star. Did you achieve it?
One should understand a thing very clearly. I never said that I could dethrone the Super Star from the number one position It was just somebody's figment of imagination. For the previous generations, MGR is the role model. Rajini is the role model for the present generation. I have tried to achieve a high position in Tamil cinema following on the footsteps on the Super Star. If a child says that his ambition is to become like Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, immediately you will pat him on his back; but you people try to slap me on my cheek for what I said. I have said that I would like come to a high position like Rajini sir, but not displace him from his undisputed number one position. It is not possible too.

When the unit decided to remake Billa, I immediately conveyed this to Rajini sir. He was very excited, and he encouraged the crew. He personally gave me his blessings for success in the project.

Any lessons from the debacle of Azhwar?
I have learnt a lot from each failure of mine. With each film, I have learned many things, and try to handle things with patience. Azhwar gave me a new kind of an experience, and henceforth, I will be careful in selecting such stories.

It seems that all your recent films are remakes only. Any specific reasons for that?
Being a part of some remake projects, I won't like to comment anything about them. It is the way you look at things.