EXCLUSIVE: "I USED TO EAT 45 EGGS PER DAY, AND...": JOHN KOKKEN TELLS HOW HE WORKED HARD TO SHAPE UP 'VEMBULI'!

John Kokken was referred to Pa Ranjith by Santhosh Pratap, who plays the role of Raman in the film and since then, he's never looked back. In an exclusive interview with Behindwoods, John Kokken talks about how he transformed himself as Vembuli, his struggles in the film Industry and more.

"During the shoot, he never calls an actor by his name. He calls everyone by their character. He asked me to change my looks and learn the Vada Chennai Tamil and slang. Many told me that it was Ranjith who brought the actor who was inside me out into this world. I will forever be thankful to him for that," he said.

Although there are references to Mike Tyson for the role of Vembuli in the film, John Kokken stayed true to his role. But Rome wasn't built in a day. His rigorous exercise routine and strict diet made him step into the skin of the character. "Pa Ranjth asked me to gain weight. I had to excercise rigorously for that. I used to eat 45 eggs per day and include millets such as Kambu, Saamai, kezhvaragu, Varagu and kuthiraivali. My wife helped me a lot through the process. It was she who kept my mental health sane," he described.

John Kokken's success ladder was a step-by-step process and he considers everything as a learning opportunity. "My first film in Kollywood was 'Osthe', but that wasn't received well in the box office and because of that my role was not recognised by people. After four years I got an opportunity to act in Ajith's 'Veeram'," he says.

Joining the film industry wasn't an easy task and John Kokken says he has had his fair share of insults and mocking by many. "It is difficult to be in the film industry. Many tease you. When you go to auditions, they give very small roles and the shoot used to be only for half a day or a day. I used to reject those roles. Many adviced me as to why I didn't take them. I am 40 years old now. Many have asked me who John Kokken is in front of me and mocked me. I think they would have gotten the reply for that now."

John Kokken, who's busy with multiple projects in hand, is hopeful that he'll be given opportunities to portray good roles in films after 'Sarpatta Parambarai'. "I want to act with many people, especially with Superstar Rajinikanth, Vijay and Jayam Ravi. I want act to more in the Kollywood industry," he says and signs off.