'UNIVERSAL' APPEAL! Madhavan and Kamal

'Kamal first, family later

...says actor Madhavan, who has recovered from a bout of malaria

     All those Bollywood biggies planning to visit Colombo this summer for an international Bollywood awards event better be warned. Madhavan says the mosquitoes in Colombo are very dangerous. If something unexpected like an offer to team up with his all time favourite actor Kamal Haasan had not come up, Madhavan would have gone on a long sabbatical after completing Tanu Weds Manu with Kangna Ranaut which has just goneinto its last long schedule in Kapurthala.

        Madhavan, who has just recovered from a bout of malaria, says,"I was just getting ready to take a long holiday to spend time with my parents, wife and son and to work on my physique when this offer with Kamal sir came along. I've now postponed my holiday."

       Kamal Haasan and Madhavan share a very close friendship. Maddy was supposed to do Kamal's daughter Shruti's launch film in Tamil. But she preferred to make her debut in Hindi with Imran Khan. Says the hero, "The last time Kamal sir and i worked together was in Anbe Sivam and it was a really special project. we waited for something really special before teaming up again."

       The Tamil spectacle will be shot in Monte Carlo at one stretch. It also stars Trisha, who makes her Hindi debut with Akshay Kumar in Priyadarshan's Khatta Meetha. It is hoped that once Trisha is seen by Hindi moviegoers om Priyadarshan's film, there would be a captive audience to watch her againin Hindi.

       Madhavan is getting ready to shoot with Kamal Haasan right after he finishes Tanu Weds Manu. The film suffered a setback when the leading lady Kangna injured herself soon after Maddy contracted malaria.

      Prompted by the unscheduled holiday, the star took off for a holiday in Kuala Lampur, says he, "On the way back, I stopped in Colombo where I was down with malaria; it just drained all energy out of me. But the one good thing that came of it was that I got pampered by my family! That's when I decided that I needed to spend time at home. But before I could implement my sabbatical, the offer for the film with Kamal sir came. So, Kamal sir first, family later."