There are still a couple of days for Sriram Raghavan’s new film Agent Vinod to hit the screens, but meanwhile, it’s all set to hit the bookshelves in the form of a graphic novel. Apparently, the comic is the brainchild of actor Saif Ali Khan, who himself is a huge fan of graphic novels.
“Saif, who is an avid reader and a huge fan of graphic novels thought it would be interesting for the character to get it’s own novel. But unlike promotional series that are often launched, Saif wanted the novel to have it’s own story,” says a source.
And insiders reveal that the novel, The Jungfrau Encounter, is not an adaptation of the film but an original graphic novel, which introduces Agent Vinod. According to a source, the story takes place before the events of the film, but it is not exactly a prequel (though the ending does lead up to the beginning of the film). “It’s for the first time here, that a full-fledged graphic novel has been commissioned to compliment a film,” says another insider insisting that it’s not a one-off promotional comic and will continue.
Talking about the comic, the source adds that it’s expected to be a 90 pager and has been written by comic-book writer Yogesh Chandekar. “The graphic novel is said to be more in tune with European/Franco-Belgian comics,” informs the source.
Saif, meanwhile, reveals that he’s not nervous despite the day of the release of his film drawing close. “You could say I’m anxious, but not nervous.” He admits that it’s been one of the most challenging films he’s ever done, though in a fun way, and that he’s already missing the action he got to do in the film. But is he
planning a sequel already, as most filmmakers nowadays do? “We do see a great potential in the franchisee and would love to take it forward, but I’m not going to rush into it. I want to take it forward, one step at a time,” says Saif, adding, “And the journey’s just begun for AV.”
