Cobra making video: Here's what Chiyaan Vikram had to undergo for his looks in the Ajay Gnanamuthu film

Chiyaan Vikram's much-awaited spy thriller Cobra hit screens yesterday (August 31) on the occasion of Vinayagar Chaturthi. The film, though received mixed reviews, has managed to make a collection of Rs 12 crore in Tamil Nadu, according to reports. In the meantime, the makers have released a making video from Cobra, which gives a peek into the efforts Vikram had to put in for his looks in the film.

In the video, the film's director Ajay Gnanamuthu is seen saying, "When we decided to experiment with Vikram sir's looks, we were wondering whom to rope in for the prosthetics. There were many options from the US and New Zealand. But I wanted Indian technicians who did the job well. We met a team in Mumbai. Months before we began the shoot, we would take moulds of the looks and wait for a day. The mould had to match the face perfectly, and it wouldn't set at times. They would then rework it for perfection."

Vikram elaborates, "We would start early in the morning. It took around five hours to get ready. At times, it was a sheer torture. Earlier, prosthetics used to be very thick and would give the feel of a mask. The good aspect is that now they have become thin and look natural. Once you get into a look, you have to change everything about the person- the way he walks, talks and even the breathing pattern."

Reminiscing about an incident in Russia, Vikram says, " My entire body would be freezing, but my face would be sweating badly. When I put on the prosthetics that had a tummy, it was sweating everywhere. The sweat would turn into ice in the cold and it would get irritating. Then I thought if we have worked this hard, people will be impressed."

He adds, "I remember we were shooting at St Petersburg Railway Station. I was ready and the unit was assembled later. I approached one of the operators on the set and began talking to him in Russian. He tried to respond at first, but after a point, he got annoyed and asked someone from the set to shoo me away. When others revealed that it was me, he apologised. It was a lot of fun."

Talking about Vikram's dedication for the character, Ajay Gnanamuthu says, "We would leave the set around 7pm. He would take another 2 and half hours to remove the prosthetics. Despite having to change so many looks, he took it sportively and didn't get worked up even a single moment.