'Aftermath' second act in Arnold Schwarzenegger's acting life: Director Elliott Lester

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Los Angeles: Director Elliott Lester says 'Aftermath' is a second act in actor Arnold Schwarzeneggers acting life.

"There's the famous quote saying there are no second acts in Americans lives. Well, I think this is the second act in Schwarzenegger's acting life, and I'm just grateful to be part of that journey," Lester said in a statement.

He added: "Of course, as a director, you want to get a great performance, but you have to have base material to do that, and Arnold shows us that he clearly has that."

Inspired by actual events, "Aftermath" is a story of two strangers (Schwarzenegger and Scoot McNairy of "Argo" and "Gone Girl" fame) whose lives become inextricably bound together after a devastating plane crash.

Known for his power-packed action roles, Schwarzenegger will be seen in a whole new avatar in "Aftermath". The film, which is being released in the country by PVR Pictures, was first scheduled to release in India on April 21, but now will hit the screens on April 14.

In the movie, Schwarzenegger plays an old father who loses his family in a plane crash. The revenge thriller is based on the real-life crash of Bashkirian Airlines Flight 2937 and DHL Flight 611. The incident occurred on July 1, 2002, when the two planes crashed into each other midair over the town of Uberlingen, Germany.

Recalling his first meeting with Schwarzenegger, Lester said: "Meeting with an icon, you have to walk in with a certain level of understanding. I have an enormous amount of respect for the work that he's done. His films informed my youth, and many people's youths.

"During our first meeting, I said to him, 'You've been all of these incredible, iconic characters, but here, you're the actor, and I'm your director, and that's the only way we're going to be able to make Roman real. I'm going to need you to check that at the door'.

"That way the relationship from the very beginning was honest."