For nearly 30 years, Tamil audiences have witnessed and adored Vikram's transformation in every film and his efforts to fit the roles he's given. To prepare for his breakthrough role in Sethu, Vikram was on a fruit juice diet for six months to lose 16kg! After that, he shifted to a diet limited to an egg white, one glass of beetroot or carrot juice and a single dry chapatti throughout the day.
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The desire to be an actor developed when he was barely 12. Vikram was part of a school musical 'Steam Boat' where he played a cotton-picking slave girl with no dialogues. Fast forward 12 years - Vikram won the Best Actor award at IIT-Madras in an annual inter-college festival.
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However, a motorbike accident with his friend right after the festival threatened to rob him of his dreams. It was his first accident, but Vikram was not ready to give up. The doctors at the government hospital in Royapettah wanted to amputate his right leg, but his mother refused to sign the consent forms.
The next few months were filled with pain and struggle; at one point there was only a two percent chance of saving the right leg'. Vikram's bones were crushed and skin and soft tissue were damaged from the knee to the ankle. It took 23 operations in 3 years to save his legs. Vikram was bedridden for 3 years and walked using crutches for another a year before recovering completely.
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His dream finally came true with he debuted in low-budget love story En Kadhal Kanmani in 1990. But it was not until 10 years later that he actually became a star, with the release of Sethu. By then, he had done modeling stints, tried to launch his career with a few films and even dubbing artist for Prabhu Deva and Abbas.
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Happy birthday to this talented star!
Source: Times of India, Caravan
Photo Credit: Stars Unfolded, India Times, thedumbideasofmine, Galatta & Pinterest