Johnny Gaddar behind my 'Kaththi' look: Neil Nitin Mukesh

"I shed about 10 and a half kg for 'Kaththi'. I wanted the puffiness of the face to go down, so that I could look leaner and sharper," he said. Neil plays a villian hailing from north India who speaks Tamil in the upcoming film helmed by Murugadoss.

Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh, who is playing antagonist in upcoming Tamil actioner 'Kaththi', says he's gone back to the days of 'Johnny Gaddar' for the look of his role in the new film. He says audiences will get to see a "leaner and sharper" Neil in the film.

HT Image

"I'm shooting for two films simultaneously - 'Kaththi' and the Salman Khan-starrer with Sooraj Barjatya. I've designed my looks in such a way that I could easily blend into both the characters. For 'Kaththi', I've gone back to the days of 'Johnny Gaddar', which is an inspiration for my look in the film," Neil said.

"I shed about 10 and a half kg for 'Kaththi' and reduced about four and half inches on the waist. I wanted the puffiness of the face to go down, so that I could look leaner and sharper," he added.

In the film, which is being directed by AR Murugadoss, Neil assures he doesn't play a "typical villain".

"It's not a typical villain role you see in the south (southern film industry). I play an extremely polished character, a north Indian who speaks Tamil, well read and foreign-returned. As a villain, I don't fight the hero with physical power, but with intelligence," he said.

"I think these qualities make my role scarier because it's not easy to tackle someone who is villainous and intelligent at the same time. These layers of shades attracted me to the role," he added.

He says he also took efforts to learn Tamil, which is alien to him.