This is the most challenging role after Paruthiveeran

Hero Karthi is excited about his character in 'Cheliya' directed by Mani Ratnam. He is saying that the fighter role in this movie is not an ordinary one..and he is surprised that Mani Ratnam choosen him for that role. Karthi said that a hero like Leonardo DiCaprio should have done this role. If the same role has do be done by an Indian actor..it should be his brother Suriya. But he said, he is lucky to have done this character.

"Mani sir penned this character wonderfully. He has designed the pilot character after doing thorough research. When I listened about the character for the first time, I thought I couldn't do it. I was not ready to do the character immediately. It took fifteen days for me to understand the character. I met several Airforce officers. They are really wonderful persons. I got to know how much they are doing for the country ony after meeting them".

"If I appear 10% of them on the screen, I feel that I have achieved so much. I have done a rough character in village backdrop in 'Paruthiveeran'. That was very tough character for me because I was working as a software engineer in America earlier. This fighter pilot role in this film is most challenging and different character for me after 'Paruthiveeran'. I will be ‌indebted to Mani sir for offering me such a role".