OVERLAY REPORT

The oldest cast member of the film *Nayakan* (1987) at the time of filming was **M. V. Vasudeva Rao** (also known as Mudabidri Venkat Rao Vasudeva Rao). ### Specific Details: * **Oldest Cast Member:** M. V. Vasudeva Rao (1920–2002) * **Age at Time of Filming:** He was **66 or 67 years old**. Filming primarily took place between late 1986 and early 1987; since Rao was born on January 1, 1920, he would have been 66 during the 1986 schedules and turned 67 in January 1987. * **Role in the Film:** He played **Hussain Bhai** (affectionately referred to as **"Vaapa"** by the protagonist). ### Role Context: Hussain Bhai is a pivotal character in the film's first act. He is a kind-hearted fisherman and small-time smuggler in the Dharavi slums of Bombay who adopts the young protagonist, Sakthivel (Velu), after the boy flees his hometown. Hussain Bhai raises Velu as his own, teaching him the ways of the city and the trade. The character’s eventual arrest and death in police custody—specifically at the hands of the corrupt Inspector Kelkar—is the defining turning point of the movie, as it drives a young Velu to murder the inspector in revenge and begin his transformation into the powerful underworld don, Velu Naicker. ### Other Senior Cast Members for Comparison: While Kamal Haasan portrayed Velu Naicker through various stages of life (eventually appearing as an elderly man), he was only about **32 years old** at the time, utilizing prosthetics and dentures to achieve his aged look. Other senior actors in the film were significantly younger than Rao: * **R. N. K. Prasad** (born 1929): Approximately **58 years old**; played one of the Reddy brothers. * **A. R. Srinivasan (ARS)** (born 1933): Approximately **54 years old**; played Commissioner Raghavan. * **R. N. Jayagopal** (born 1935): Approximately **52 years old**; played one of the Reddy brothers. * **Delhi Ganesh** (born 1944): Approximately **43 years old**; played Iyer.