Indian 2: Kamal Haasan, Shankar explains how Senapathy stays strong at 106

Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan has reprised his iconic role, Veerasekaran Senapathy, aka Indian thatha, in Indian 2. The film is a sequel to the 1996 classic Indian, which revolved around an elderly vigilante waging a war on corruption.

Senapathy was in his late 70s when the film was first released 28 years ago. Indian 2 is set against the backdrop of 2024, and consequently, Senapathy's age will be around 106. The one question that naturally comes to everyone is how a 100-plus-year-old Senapathy can fight the bad guys. Judging from the trailer, it seems Senapathy has only gotten stronger and deadlier with age.

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When Kamal was asked how Indian 2 justifies this age factor in the movie, Kamal had a witty response, "I would like to be 140. The age needs to be determined by him (director Shankar). I would like to act even when I am 120 years old."

Director Shankar cited an example of a Chinese master who remained strong and nimble even at the age of 120. "There is a master in China, his name is Lu Zijian. At the age of 120, he's performing martial arts. He's flying, kicking, and all that. So this Senapathy character is also a master in an ancient martial art called Varma. Such masters will have discipline in everything they do: food, yoga, meditation. They take food only once (in a day). For a master, age doesn't matter, he can perform any kind of stunts," he reasoned.

Kamal also cited another example of an older master defying age. "I have seen Gojai Yamaguchi, 6th Dan of Budokai, in Chennai, when he was 89," he recalled.

Kamal and Shankar are leading the nationwide promotion of Indian 2. The film's trailer was released on Tuesday and garnered mixed reviews. The film is due in cinemas on July 12.

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