‘Arjun Rampal will have audience rooting for 'Ra.One'’s villain'

It started with former MTV VJ/absurdist Cyrus Broacha giving a special preview of the Golden Kela Awards, a dubious distinction bestowed upon putrid Hindi cinema.

 

By late afternoon, the versatile Irrfan Khan dropped by to launch (Tere Bin Laden director) Abhishek Sharma’s Munkeeman. The comic book, Sharma's preferred medium which felt could do justice to his idea, is based upon the monstrous Monkey-man of hysteria that gripped Delhi in 2001. According to Sharma, Munkeeman, actually a valiant hero, is largely misunderstood by the public. In the mean time when it came to behind-the -scenes, Irrfan remained tight-lipped about 2012’s The Amazing Spider-Man.

 

Since Farhan Akhtar couldn’t make it for his scheduled unveiling of the cover of the comic accompaniment to the awaited Don sequel, Vimanika CEO Karan Vir Arora did the deed. In a recorded video statement, Farhan apologised for his absence. Explaining why the Don: The Origin had to be a prequel, Farhan said he couldn’t wait for the film to launch the book nor could he reveal the plot.

 

Telling us how the anti-hero came to be, the book will introduce readers to Don’s mentor, under whom he trains and receives his nomenclature. Saying Shah Rukh Khan is back again, Farhan said the film will be a “rollercoaster ride” with a lot more action.

 

Finally, the creative team behind Ra.One showed up to promote the comic book and deliver some tantalising inside information. Team member Gautam B Thakker said that the comic paid homage to Shah Rukh Khan’s earlier films with the first panel paying tribute to Sholay as well.

 

The team said that Arjun Rampal’s performance as the titular character will go down in history much like Amrish Puri as Mogambo in Mr. India. They said that Rampal's "amazing performance" would have the audience, for once, rooting for the villain. They wouldn’t be surprised if the film would have a follow-up, they added.