The Pan-Indian film Liger, starring actors Vijay Deverakonda and Ananya Panday, is now preparing for release. The actors talked candidly about their experiences working with international legend and former professional boxer Mike Tyson during an interview.
The Arjun Reddy actor responded, "He has such a huge image preceding him," when asked about Mike Tyson and their experience working with the legendary figure. "You have heard of him since you were a kid. When we landed in Vegas I still didn't know if he was going to turn up on set. I was like ‘Are we shooting with Mike Tyson? Is he actually going to come or is a double going to come? Are we talking of some imaginary people?’ And then when we landed on set, that man was actually walking.”
'I was in the middle of a shot when he arrived in costume, and I immediately thought, "Oh oh f**k, he's actually here." I thought, "I'll just complete my take and go greet him," at that point. Another thing we presumptively believed about him was that he was a senior celebrity and superstar who would arrive about noon. Let's do something in the morning before he arrives to warm everyone up.' But every day, he would be on set at 8 in the morning, even before us. So, as we realized his time, which is really early, we all had to hurry to be ready for him."
The actress said, “Once he came on set, he would never go and sit in the room or sit in the van. He was on set all the time. And whatever Puri sir said, he said ‘Yeah I’ll do it.’ First few days we were like ‘Should we ask him if we can do this or we can do that.’ But he was open to everything. When he stood in front of the frame, he didn't have to do anything. He has so much personality and this larger-than-life aura to him. He was so sweet and funny, cracking jokes and everything.”
Vijay Deverakonda, a South actor, will portray a struggling fighter in Liger who rises to international renown. Mike Tyson, a former American professional boxer, will also make a cameo appearance in the film. The Puri Jagannadh-directed film will hit theaters on August 25.
