More than just a Six-pack!

He has zoomed past more established namesand is today considered not only a ���saleable star��� but a ���safebet��� by the distributors. The production cost of his new film Sathyam is awhopping Rs 27 crore, the combined cost of all his earlier six films puttogether! And Sathyam scheduled to release on August 14, has been sold allareas, including a record price for its Telugu version Salute.What makes Vishal Reddy, the tall, dark hero with unconventional looks click with the masses as an action hero? It is his fiery determination backed by hard work, discipline, and commitment that got him to the top in a record time.Like most of the new generation actors, he is also an industrychild. He is the son of veteran producer GK Reddy and younger brother of VikramKrishna who tried to be a hero and ended up as a producer. He had the rightconnections and at a young age was influenced by Ram Gopal Varma films andwanted to be his assistant.Since his parents did not want him to goto Mumbai, he assisted ���action king��� Arjun who saw the spark of anaction hero in him. Later Vicky (brother) launched him with Chellamay, directedby Gandhi Krishna which went on to become a hit. However it was Sandakozhidirected by Lingusamy and produced by Vicky that went on to become ablockbuster, and a star was born.In his early days, Vishal was influenced by Vijay type of mass masala movies where he played the larger-than-life action hero who is an all-rounder singing, dancing and fighting on screen. In films like Thimiru, Thamarabharani and Malaikottai he virtually cloned Vijay���s success formula and was able to create his own fan base in B & C centres.Vishal, who started as an assistant director, wasable to correctly read the pulse of the mass audiences, and the industrygrapevine has it that he ���ghost directs��� his film. And his brotherVikram Krishna too played a big role in Vishal���s success story by choosingthe right projects and betting big on his younger brother. What Bonny Kapoor wasto Anil Kapoor in his early days, Vicky is to Vishal. The two are also adept atmarketing their films.Many veterans in the industry point out thatVishal is the biggest marketing success of the decade in Kollywood. Afterwinning over the B & C audiences the mass hero wants to take over the upperclass audience with Sathyam. ���Sathyam is an unusual cop story, with agreat twist. I play an encounter cop in the film. Director Rajasekharan istrying to say something different. We are trying to make it exactly opposite ofthe usual formula cop story. My role model for the character I playis ACP Shailendra Babu. He gave me a peek into the life of a real lifecop,��� says Vishal. The film has Kannada superstar Upendra playing a rolewith negative shades and the glamorous Nayanthara playing the role of atelevision reporter.To make it realistic Vishal says, ���I tonedmy body and did regular work-outs, to get that six- pack abs look, which wasimportant for the story. People tell me I really look like a cop in the promosof the film.���Vishal added he has been largely influenced byShankar school of film making. ���Sathyam is a mega budget film which hasgrandeur, visual effects, awesome action scenes, including a never seen beforecar chase through the streets of Chennai, choreographed by Craig Munna, peppymusic by Harris Jayaraj and splendid camera work by cinematographer RDRajasekhar,��� says Vishal. There will be an audio launch of the film nextweek in Chennai. Sathyam is Harris Jayaraj���s 25th film and there are fivesongs in the album.One of the highlights of the film is the steamyhot soft erotic song picturised on Vishal and Nayanthara, where they willlip-lock. Added Vishal: ���It is the hottest song you will ever see on Tamilcinema. Harris has composed very unusual numbers for the film, which are suregoing to be hits.���Meanwhile Vicky is working out the releasestrategy of the film which is due on August 14, as he is trying to market Vishalas the ���first macho action hero in Kollywood, with ripplingmuscles.���