Dhanush is like my younger brother: Aanand L Rai

During the shooting of a film, the director is often known to form a friendship with his actors. Some bondings like the one between Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Ranbir Kapoor fizzle out after the making of the film. Others like Imtiaz Ali and Ranbir continue beyond the work place. But the bond that filmmaker Aanand L Rai has forged with his Raanjhanaa star Dhanush goes beyond the usual associations between directors and actors.

Dhanush revealed that he  is now a part of Aanand’s family, and vice-versa.All through his stay in Mumbai for the shooting of Raanjhanaa Dhanush lived in Aanand’s home. The actor’s meals were sent to the shooting locations every day from Aanand’s kitchen.

And that’s exactly why both Aanand and Dhanush are deeply hurt by reports in certain sections of the press that insinuate Aanand to be Dhanush’s ‘Man-Friday’.

 Laughs Aanand, “I don’t really understand what they mean by that. Dhanush is part of my family. That can’t be reversed. It has nothing to do with whether we work together again or not. Dhanush, his wife Aishwarya and their two sons’ place in my family and home is for keeps, irrespective of our work commitments.”

Aanand brushes off queries on Dhanush’s khaana being sent from Aanand’s kitchen. “It goes without saying. Would I talk about my daughter’s meals originating from my kitchen? And let me tell you, when I was in and out of Chennai for my meeting with Rahman Sir (AR Rahman) almost every day, Aishwarya  made sure all my meals came from her kitchen. There’s nothing to be announced about this. It goes without saying. I feel silly talking about it.”

 As for Aanand taking interest in Dhanush’s professional interests in Mumbai the director says, “Dhanush is still an outsider in Mumbai. He always will be, and I am talking about Dhanush as an individual not an actor... He comes from a different cultural breeding. He is groping in the dark trying to make sense of all the professional opportunities available here in Mumbai. I consider it my  duty to guide him, just as my elder brother Ravi (television and film director Ravi Rai) guided me when I was young and new. This is a question of values that we’ve inculcated over generations. We have been taught to extend a helping hand  when it’s needed by people close to us.”

Dhanush was deeply emotional while talking of his rapport with Aanand. “He understands me and he understands the Mumbai film industry far better than I do. I am completely dependent on his judgement and opinion about issues related to Bollywood. Even otherwise I seek his opinion as any person would from his elder brother. Raanjhanaa gave me a lot. But most of all it gave me a brother.”