Tamil comedian Vivek in Kannada film

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Tamil comedian Vivek has a huge fan base across South India. His fans from Karnataka now have a reason to rejoice as the actor makes is debut in a Kannada film, Mareecha. What ups the curiosity level is the fact that for the first time the ace comedian will be playing a negative character.

Says Mithin Tejaswi who is the hero in the film and wrote the script: "We had to script his character carefully as it would not be that easy for people to accept him in a negative role. His character has a comic side too. In fact, at the end of the film, it will be the viewers who will decide if his character is negative at all."

Speaking about how he roped in Vivek for the film, the actor says, "Vivek is a veteran in the field and I wanted him to give a frank opinion on my script since it was the first time I was writing one. He not only liked my story but also wanted to essay a role. But since the character came with negative shades, we had to rework it to suit his image. Once it was done, he was on board."

Vivek says he signed the project for close friend Mithun. The two actors have co-stared in the Tamil film Sandai.

"I play a guy who meets a honeymooning couple and the story revolves around us three people," he says.

Mareecha will be a bilingual. It is titled Valipokan (Stranger) in Tamil and Madhurima is the heroine.

Srikanth, whose first film was Olave Mandara, is busy as a bee. Even as his second film, Mavalli, is under production, he has bagged another, as yet untitled, project about the unfair practices in the education system.

"I play a student from a middle class family. He is hard working but his efforts prove useless as rich kids in his college gain marks using their money and influence. The film is about how this affects his career and his household," Srikanth explains.

In the under-production Mavalli, Srikanth plays a rough and tough, uneducated youngster. "He just believes in having fun. All is well until his group gets into a problem that leaves all involved shattered." 

He has also signed a film with Anand P Raju. "It may be called Damaruga or Agnipath. I play a techie in the film. But I will commence work on that after I finish the other two projects," he signs off.

Telugu actress Charmi, who stole hearts with her bubbly performance in Buddha Hoga Tera Baap, is now acting in a Kannada film. She plays a choreographer in Dev Son of Mudde Gowda.

She is paired opposite Diganth, who plays an actor. The film is being directed by Indrajit Lankesh, whose last outing was Huduga Hudugi. This is Charmi's second Kannada film, the first being Lavakusha. 

Another import in the film is Lucky Ali. He will render a song. This will be his first Kannada number.