Chennai, Feb 5 (NationPress) Renowned Malayalam star Asif Ali has revealed that his much-anticipated film 'Tikitaka', directed by Rohith VS, is nearing the end of its filming process.

On his birthday, the actor took to his X timeline to unveil the film's first look poster, sharing, "Heat, heat waves, I’m swimmin’ in a mirror. @asifali As John Denver."

Additionally, Vellmade Productions, one of the film's production houses, shared a video clip featuring Asif Ali dressed as John Denver. In the clip, he expressed gratitude for the birthday wishes, stating, "I felt so loved and happy. I understand you're eager for the teaser, but it won’t be out just yet. We are currently in the final stages of filming, and this birthday has been incredibly exhausting. So, stay tuned for Tikitaka and await John Denver."

Last year, Asif shared an emotional post detailing the immense effort involved in portraying the lead role of John Denver in 'Tikitaka'.

He recounted on his Instagram how he underwent a significant physical transformation for the character. However, an accident on the film set in 2023 left him bedridden, erasing the progress he had made for the role.

Asif mentioned that he had to exert considerable effort once again to transform himself for the role, now with a healing leg after suffering from meniscus and ligament tears. He cheerfully confirmed that filming was proceeding vigorously.

Asif Ali expressed, "Dear Family, when John Denver came into my life, I was immediately captivated by his spirit - his resilience and unwavering determination to face challenges. I didn’t realize my journey with this character would parallel my own personal struggles.

"Tikitaka is a project that demands immense dedication. It took me months to transform physically and to master the fighting skills required. I can confidently state that I gave everything I had. When we started filming in 2023, an unfortunate accident during fight training resulted in weeks of being bedridden and in a wheelchair, causing me to lose all the progress I had made over a year to prepare for this character. Unlike John Denver, I shed tears like a child during my hospital stay," Asif Ali shared.

He further added, "Now, eighteen months later, we are back on track and rolling with full vigor, having endured the process yet again to meet the film’s demands, this time with a healing leg from meniscus and ligament tears."

"This film requires a great deal of conviction and effort, not only from the actors but everyone involved. As Malayalam cinema enjoys a golden era, we aim to deliver an unparalleled experience—creating unapologetically commercial cinema that evokes mass excitement on the big screen, packed with action. I anticipate all the support from cinema enthusiasts," he concluded.