Evolved as actor after working with Kamal Haasan: Madhu Shalini

Actress Madhu Shalini, who plays an important role in Kamal Haasan's Tamil-Telugu thriller "Thoongaavanam", says the opportunity to share the screen space with the veteran actor helped her evolve as an actor.

"With Kamal sir on sets, you're constantly learning. I mean, he's been acting since he was a child and anything he does now would be a cakewalk. But he still sits and works on something till he gets its right. This whole experience of watching him and learning from close quarters helped me evolve as actor," Madhu told IANS.

Without divulging much information about the role, she said she's kicked about it.

On the first day of the sets, Madhu admits, she was very nervous.

"Kamal sir quickly sensed how I was feeling and kept me at ease. There's so much to learn from him. Every day on the sets, it's like the first day and the experience was so good that I could write it down in a diary and treasure it," she said.

This is not the first time Madhu has worked alongside a legend. She has worked with megastar Amitabh Bachchan in Ram Gopal Varma's "Department".

"Although I didn't have any scenes with Amit ji, I'd be thrilled to meet him on sets and watch him perform. In 'Thoongaavanam', to get an opportunity to rub shoulders with Kamal ji is an inexplicably good feeling," she added.

With "Thoongaavanam", which has been simultaneously made in Telugu as "Cheekati Rajyam", Madhu returns to Tamil cinema after a hiatus of four years.

"Post 'Avan Ivan', I didn't get any interesting offer worth accepting. This project came along after a short break and I'm confident that it'll open new doors for me in Tamil filmdom," she said.

Directed by Rajesh M. Selva, "Thoongaavanam" is the official remake of French thriller "Sleepless Night", and it also features Prakash Raj, Kishore, Trisha Krishnan and Sampath Raj among others.

Both the versions of the film are slated for a Diwali release.