Didn't want to miss working with Vadivelu: Meenakshi Dixit

Actress Meenakshi Dixit was aware of the fact that upcoming Tamil period-comedy "Thenaliraman" doesn't feature a regular hero, yet she agreed to work in the film because she didn't want to miss an opportunity to work with legendary comedian Vadivelu.

Vadivelu, who was banned from acting for political reasons, is making a comeback with "Thenaliraman".

"I was told by many people not to do this film but my heart was all for it. I was sure about one thing that maybe I'm not working with a regular hero but I will not get an opportunity to work with a legendary comedian," Meenakshi told IANS.

"Moreover, the movie concentrates more on the content rather than just the hero. I'm very proud to be a part of such a prestigious project by a great production house," she said.

Meenakshi plays a "high-spirited" and "naughty" princess of a kingdom in the film, which is slated for release Friday.

Asked about working with Vadivelu, she said: "Working with him was an experience of a lifetime. I have learnt a lot from him. He is the most humble and grounded person I have ever met in my life."

As an actor, she admired Vadivelu's "comic timing and the knack for improvisation".

Improvisation on sets was Meenakshi's biggest challenge.

"It was a challenge to match the comic timing of Vadivelu because he would improvise randomly on sets. I would have practiced my lines for hours and then when we do the scene, everything would have been improvised by Vadivelu. So, catching up with him was a challenge," she added.

Having starred in Telugu films such as "Dookudu", "Baadshah" and "Bodyguard", Meenakshi has also worked in 2010 Tamil film "Virudhagiri".