Had to be expressionless for `Ra.One`: Rampal

Mumbai: Arjun Rampal, who`s playing a virtual villain in ‘Ra.One’, says the challenging part about his role was that he had to appear expressionless. He also says that his much-talked about look in the film was intentionally kept under wraps till Dussehra.

The plan was to gradually let Arjun`s character come into the public eye. Says a source: "There was a certain amount of concern regarding Arjun`s missing presence in the publicity. But Shah Rukh Khan and Arjun had the villain`s look, projection and publicity worked out in complete detail. Arjun knew his time would start after Dussehra." Says Arjun: "That was always the strategy. To reveal my character after Dussehra when traditionally Raavan/`Ra.One` is vanquished." Arjun says he had no trepidation about being left out of the publicity. "Shah Rukh and I have discussed how my character would be introduced to the public. I play the title role and we both knew what a challenge it was for me." "Since I played a villain from the virtual world, my character couldn`t convey any emotions. I had to appear absolutely expressionless on screen. It wasn`t easy," he adds. Sources say that Shah Rukh and Arjun have stuck a rather unusual deal. According to them, Shah Rukh has convinced Arjun to play the main antagonist in the films he produces. "It started with `Om Shanti Om` where Arjun played the producer who kills Deepika Padukone and SRK. "Now in `Ra.One` again, Arjun agreed to play the `virtual` villain. And SRK has promised Arjun`s character in `Ra.One` the kind of buildup until release that so far only the hero imself got in Red Chillies production," he adds. IANS