The long-awaited biopic on the life of the famous Franco-Armenian singer Charles Aznavour is taking shape. Directed by Mehdi Idir and Grand Corps Malade, this film will highlight the fascinating journey of the iconic artist. To play the main role, actor Tahar Rahim was chosen, promising a poignant interpretation. A role that he obviously couldn’t refuse. “I’m very good friends with (them), they were talking to me about this project, but I never thought it would be me”he confided recently in the columns of Parisian.
And to continue: “When they offered it to me this fall, I didn’t know if I could do it… But I’m a very, very big fan of the artist and his career, the challenge is extraordinary, and I love the work by Grand Corps Malade and Mehdi Idir.” Ready to do anything to embody the artist as faithfully as possible, Tahar Rahim also added: “There needs to be a resemblance, but it’s more about incarnation and evocation: I don’t want to end up with a mask on my head.”
Also see: Leïla Bekhti: since the Césars, her lover Tahar Rahim has changed his face, the hunk of cinema appears with a shaved head in “Quotidien”!
Grand Corps Malade blown away by the talent of Tahar Rahim
Podcast guest Focus by Fabien Marsaud on the airwaves of RTL this Friday September 22, 2023, Grand Corps Malade also spoke about the film. “This flight took a long time to arrive. That’s what Charles Aznavour wanted to tell. […] Bohemia, the years of small cabarets here and there, the Piaf years… And this slow rise to success which took time. He moved mountains, he had nothing to succeed, and everyone said that to his face, and yet he didn’t give up.”he explained before praising the famous singer. “He is a giant of song, I had the chance to know him and he was an absolutely fascinating man and curious about many things. We almost had to do this film with him, he validated us. He must have been there as a luxury consultant […] unfortunately, when we started the project, he died, even though he was doing very well.”
During his interview with our colleagues, the interpreter of Ladies also spoke about his decision to choose Tahar Rahim to play the legend. “I already knew him and we chose him knowing that he is already a great actor. He is part of this small category of actors who manage to transform themselves physically, to transform their voice to take on a role”. According to him, Leïla Bekhti’s husband gave everything for this role. “He gave an absolutely incredible performance. […] He went beyond what we could have imagined. He worked like crazy. He watched hours and hours of interviews with Aznavour, he took singing lessons, body language lessons, piano lessons… He’s been working for months. Work pays, and you’ll see that it’s something.”. A teaser that makes you want to!
V.B.