Actor Arjun Das says his upcoming romantic drama Once More has given him an opportunity to move beyond the image created by his distinctive voice and explore a more vulnerable side of his acting. In an interview with News Today, Arjun spoke about his character, romance, music and his efforts to be recognised as a performer beyond his voice.
Q: What does Once More mean to you as an actor?
A: Once More is about nursing emotional wounds and falling in love again. My character, Raghu, is someone who carries a lot of pain, but he also needs to be a source of hope. I should neither leave the audience sulking nor make them feel unmoved by my character. If I fail to achieve both, I would consider myself to have failed as an actor. I have sincerely tried to strike that balance.
Q: You are widely recognised for your distinctive voice. Do you feel it has overshadowed you as a performer?
A: I believe I am more than my voice. I am not consciously trying to change my image with every film, but I feel that if I continue making better choices with my scripts, audiences will gradually look beyond my voice and appreciate me for the performer I am. Even before Once More, I did films such as Rasavathi, Bomb and Con City. But Kaithi’s Anbu continues to cast a long shadow over me.
Q: Did you have any doubts about playing a romantic lead?
A: Yes, there was a perception about my voice and the kind of roles I had been doing. Even Aditi had doubts about whether I would do a film like Once More. But I believe this film gives me an opportunity to show another side of myself.
Q: Can Gen Z audiences connect with a 90s-style romance?
A: Absolutely. Love is a strong and universal emotion. Gen Z audiences may have a different way of looking at relationships, but if romance is presented well and the emotions are conveyed properly, everyone can connect with it. I don’t want to put Once More into a box, but if I have to classify it, I would call it a 90s-style romance.
Q: The film has 16 songs. How important is music to Once More?
A: Music is one of the biggest strengths of the film. Hesham Abdul Wahab is the soul of Once More. He is the perfect composer for a mature and emotional musical love story. When Vignesh described the film as a musical romance, Hesham’s name immediately came to mind. I strongly believe audiences should listen to the entire OST.
Q: What do you hope audiences take away from Once More?
A: I hope they experience the emotions of the characters and leave the theatre with something positive. The film deals with emotional pain, but it is also about finding hope and opening yourself up to love again.