Right now, however, he is playing the assistant director's role, teaching school students how to act surprised when the camera pans and hovers over their heads. "What would you do if a strange object came over your head? Wouldn't you get scared? Wouldn't you nudge and inform the friend sitting next to you? Do the same thing here," Kamal tells them.
But, as he finds out in the innumerable rehearsals that follow, it's easier said than done. Every time, something goes wrong. Either the fifth boy nudges the sixth one before the fourth one has nudged him, or the expression they have is not right. After more than an hour of sweating it out, Kamal is satisfied.
Director Singeetham also feels they are ready for the shot. "Mumbai Xpress has a brilliant script with realistic, slapstick comedy," he says. "I am very happy to be working with Kamal Haasan again. He is playing multiple roles in the making of the film -- producer, sometimes assistant director and, of course, the hero!"