Appreciation from Rajinikanth means a lot: Director Atlee

Director Atlee Kumar, an ardent fan of actor Rajinikanth, received appreciation from the superstar recently when he showed him the trailer of his upcoming Tamil romantic-comedy "Raja Rani". The debutant says it means a lot to him.

"I wanted to enter films after I watched Rajini sir's 'Thalapathi'. When I finally maanaged to become a director and finish my film, I wanted to seek his (Rajinikanth's) blessings. When I went to invite him for the audio launch of 'Raja Rani', I showed him the film's trailer and he loved it," Atlee told IANS.

"He said that the trailer looks very good and wished me luck. These few words of appreciation mean a lot to me. I'm sure his words would mean a lot to any filmmaker, new or old. I told myself, 'If I have impressed him, then how difficult it will be to impress the audiences'," he added.

Rajinikanth was expected to attend the audio launch of "Raja Rani" here Friday, but he didn't turn up for reasons unknown.

The film features Arya, Nayanthara, Jai and Nazriya Nizam in the lead roles. It's the story of finding love between two couples after a breakup.

Jointly produced by A.R. Murugadoss and Fox Star Studios, "Raja Rani" is slated for a September release.