Ramya in Preetham Gubbi's next

The combination of Johnny and Padmavathi, the not-so ideal couple, was well received by audiences. Likewise, even off screen, the actors who played the parts Duniya Vijay and Ramya were a rather unconventional pair. So when the news of Vijay and Ramya teaming up for a movie was first announced, it created much curiosity.
“Since Vijay is a mass hero and Ramya, a top-notch heroine, I knew that pairing them as the leading man and lady would provoke interest.And my confidence paid off. Though they come from diverse cinematic backgrounds, Vijay and Ramya hit it off instantly. And it’s this infectious energy that has translated on screen and has made Johnny and Padmavathi such a hit pair,” explains director Preetham Gubbi.
While Ramya plays an NRI in the film, Vijay runs a social service centre. “You should have seen them on the sets. Every scene in the film has a touch of humour, so they were constantly teasing each other. Ramya is such a livewire and Vijay is known for his funny bone. It’s because the act was so real that they carried off their parts so efficiently,” says Preetham.
Preetham infused real-life comments that were made by people, about the pair, into the script. “And such was the level of enthusiasm among fans, that it even fetched one of the biggest openings in Viji’s career,” adds the director.
Meanwhile, Preetham is all set to make a sequel to the film, which will be called Johnny 2 and will have Ramya in a highly glam avatar. “Her look will be the talk of the town. I don’t want to reveal it now, but I’m sure it will grab eyeballs. Ramya has never attempted such an act in Sandalwood before,” says Preetham.
He adds, “Major portions of the movie will be shot abroad. I’m already penning the script and we will go on the floors in January. We want to give some space before we take off and till then, soak in the success of the first part.”
There’s another surprise in store for the audience. A Johnny series may also happen soon. “The sequel will have a different story but the characters will remain the same. Just like the Munnabhai series, the Johnny stories too will have different themes every time,” he tells us.
Preetham is also happy that with the teaming of two talented actors like Viji and Ramya, he’s been able to cater to both mass and class audiences. “And I can assure viewers that Johnny 2 will also have the same feel-good factor as Johnny Mera Naam,” says Preetham.