Russell doesn’t stick to the script: Vinay Virmani

Young actor Vinay Virmani is being called Akshay Kumar’s protégé. But that doesn't mean he got anything easy, even though he was one of the writers of Speedy Singhs.

Young actor Vinay Virmani is being called Akshay Kumar’s protégé. But that doesn't mean he got anything easy, even though he was one of the writers of Speedy Singhs. “I had to audition for the role and do a screen test even though it was my story idea and I worked on the script. But I respect that, because I respect the process. I guess I had the advantage of living this character since as an Indian in Canada, I understand the dilemmas my character, Rajveer Singh, faces,” says Virmani, who is a keen follower of Bollywood films and makes it a point to stay as up-to-date with the releases as possible.

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“I’ve grown up on these films. The last one I watched was Bodyguard. And I absolutely loved Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. It made me want to jump off a plane.”

Recalling shooting with stand-up comic Russell Peters cracks him up: “He’s insane, he’s crazy. He never sticks to the script. You tell him “Russell, these are your lines,” and he’ll say, “I’ll say something like that”. I hate that and yet love it because it keeps things fresh,” he adds.

Robert Lieberman, who directed D3: The Mighty Ducks (1996), the third edition of one of Disney's more successful franchises, is helming this one as well. However, Virmani isn’t afraid of comparisons. “All films based on sports have similar themes and messages. But the difference lies in how you present it, and Speedy Singhs has a new set-up.”