Dark forces are on the rise in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2. Charlie Vickers who plays Halbrand/Sauron in the series goes through quite the transformation as he takes on the fair form of Sauron. As Annatar, he gains the trust of Carles Edwards’ Celebrimbor and sets his plans of taking over Middle-earth in motion.

In an exclusive interview with Filmfare, Vickers opened up about channelling the character’s darkness. When asked how he approached the role, he explained, “Maybe it’s just me (laughs). It’s really challenging material and dark themes but Charlie and I and the work we were doing for the majority of the season had to have some lightness to it otherwise it would get too heavy. So I was just enjoying playing a villain. These are the roles that are fun for any actor to play. Any energy I was bringing was probably subconscious or maybe the dark energy is there in me.”

Opening up about his transformation as Annatar in Rings of Power Season 2, he explained, “Everything we created with that look had to have some grounding in some kind of truth whether it’s the lore or the books. Tolkien wrote of Annatar as Sauron appearing in a fair form and that’s all. There are no more descriptions of him. So rather than just making stuff up we had to find a reason for him to look the way he looks and get inspired.” 

“We looked at Celebrimbor and thought who would command the respect of the greatest Elven smith? What does this God look like? There had to be this level of experience, wisdom and power,” he added.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 which also features Robert Aramayo, Maxim Baldry, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Tyrone Muhafidin and more is currently streaming.

Aamir Khan recently made a video call to Vinesh Phogat to congratulate the wrestler for her performance at Paris Olympics. In the photos, Aamir and Vinesh are seen smiling and interacting heartily.

Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the Paris 2024 Olympics in the Women’s 50kg wrestling category for exceeding weight limit. Over the video call, Aamir also reminded Vinesh that her three fights were proof of her champion mentality. The video call was also attended by former wrestler Kripa Shankar, who also mentored the actors in Dangal.

Fans took to the comment section to leave heartfelt comments for Aamir and Vinesh. Some also wondered if Aamir is planning to make Dangal 2 soon. Dangal, released in 2016, starred Aamir Khan, alongside Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra in pivotal roles.

READ MORE: Bollywood stars react to Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from Paris Olympics

The highly anticipated film, The Mehta Boys, is set to make its exclusive world premiere at the prestigious 15th Chicago South Asian Film Festival (CSAFF) this year. The movie will be showcased on the festival’s opening night on September 20, 2024. Produced by Boman Irani, Danesh Irani, Vikesh Bhutani, and Shujaat Saudagar, this film is a collaborative production by Irani Movietone LLP and Chalkboard Entertainment LLP.

The Mehta Boys is a poignant drama that delves into the complexities of a father-son relationship. The story revolves around a father and son who, despite being at odds, are forced to spend 48 hours together, leading to a journey of emotional discovery and reconciliation. The film boasts of a talented ensemble cast including Boman Irani, Avinash Tiwary, Shreya Chaudhry, and Puja Sarup, with the screenplay co-written by Boman Irani and Oscar-winning writer Alexander Dinelaris Jr.

Following the premiere, the audience will be treated to a conversation with the cast and crew, including Boman Irani and Alexander Dinelaris Jr. The festival will also feature a master class by the duo on September 21st, focusing on the writing process behind The Mehta Boys.