I make an effort to look my character, whether he is handsome or shabby: Vikram

Chiyaan Vikram, who recently joined Twitter, is enjoying his time on the micro-blogging platform. He was seen promoting his upcoming film Cobra, taking questions from both the press and fans.

The last two years have been an exciting adventure, said Vikram, adding, "One advantage I had was that I had to have long hair for all three films. Aside from the jokes, all three films had good stories. It was a pleasure working with directors including Mani Ratnam (Ponniyin Selvan), Karthik Subbaraj (on Mahaan that streams on Amazon Prime Video), and Ajay Gnanamuthu. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with the best teams at this point in my career."

Vikram donned several looks for Cobra. He claims that the film's story and emotions will captivate the audience more than its looks. He has, however, gone out of his way to invest time and energy in prosthetics in films such as Shankar's I, Iru Mugan, and now the Ajay Gnanamuthu film.

"When I hear the filmmakers' outline of my character, I start visualising how I should look the part. After all, I am an actor, and I should push myself when it comes to playing my characters and convincing the audience. If the character has to be fat and ugly, I have to be fat and ugly on screen. For my next film with Pa Ranjith, I'm losing weight and growing a beard for the role. Many people have asked me if I'm okay and why I haven't looked sharp in my recent public appearances. Though I was disappointed, that is what my character in Chiyaan 61 is. So that's how it works," he said.

It's no secret that Vikram avoids using a dupe because his appearance and body language change with each character he plays. "If I were to use one, I would need someone similar to me. Who eats and exercises like me and dresses differently for each role? However, this is not possible," he added.

Vikram firmly believes his strength is his performance, and it is also why he is always on the lookout for roles that challenge him. “It is very easy to sit back and do normal roles", but he doesn't want to be "ordinary"!

Produced by Seven Screen Studio, Cobra, directed by Ajay Gnanamuthu, will hit the screens on August 31.