Wherever Ram goes, Sita follows, but that certainly doesn’t apply to Sai Pallavi, who plays Sita in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana. While the film has hosted four major promotional events yet, Pallavi’s absence from the events and social media has sparked speculation, from online criticism to rumours of a fallout with the team.

Sources, however, say it is purely a scheduling issue. Pallavi is currently shooting Mani Ratnam’s next with Vijay Sethupathi in Kolkata. “Sai has a packed and demanding schedule in Kolkata. The team will move to another location immediately after this. She is focused on finishing her commitment first,” says a source.

Those close to the actor also stress that she has never treated social media as part of her publicity strategy. “She has always maintained a low-key online presence. The trailer is on her grid now. While she reposted it a bit late, that’s just how she has functioned throughout her career. She went for the Delhi event and then straight for her shoot,” says an insider, adding that Pallavi was never meant to attend the Ramayana unveiling at the San Diego Comic-Con.

Pallavi is expected to join co-stars Ranbir Kapoor and Yash, who play Ram and Ravana respectively, for the next phase of promotions. “The plan has always been for Sai to join the promotions in the next phase, which starts in September in several international locations.”

Six years after her turn in Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020), Tabu returns to South cinema with filmmaker Puri Jagannadh’s upcoming action thriller, Slumdog – 33 Temple Road. The pan-India feature, which also stars Vijay Sethupathi and Samyuktha in primary roles, is currently in post-production and will release later this year.

Smitten by the calibre and “confidence” of her co-stars, Samyuktha, who has been observing them on set, shares, “They walk and perform with an ease, and have an effortless way of handling things.”

For Tabu, the project is akin to coming home, as the Bollywood star hails from Hyderabad. Samyuktha shares her excitement about hearing Tabu converse with the cast and crew in Telugu. The actor says her co-star made her feel included, despite it being their first collaboration.

“She is a Hyderabad girl! Being the least experienced person there, I would listen to Zarina [Wahab] ma’am and Tabu ma’am talk in Telugu. I heard so many stories from them. I felt very included. There wasn’t any vibe of ‘You need to be away from us because we’re talking.’ I always felt a sense of inclusivity, which I loved.”

Following the massive success of Jailer (2023), director Nelson Dilipkumar moved swiftly to develop a sequel, with Rajinikanth confirmed to reprise his role as Muthuvel Pandian in Jailer 2. The latest addition to the star-studded cast is Vijay Sethupathi, who has now confirmed his cameo in the upcoming action-comedy. The Tamil film will once again feature Rajinikanth in the lead, with several high-profile actors set to make special appearances. Among them is Sethupathi, who revealed his involvement in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter India.

The actor, known for films such as Vikram Vedha (2017), said that he had earlier decided to avoid cameo appearances and villainous roles. However, working with Rajinikanth prompted him to make an exception. “I have done a cameo in Jailer 2 because I love Rajinikanth sir. To be with him, I get to learn a lot. Superstars have survived in this industry for decades, there is so much to learn,” Sethupathi said.

In the same interaction, the actor explained why he has become selective about playing antagonists on screen. Sethupathi said he often faced emotional pressure from filmmakers to take up villain roles, which eventually began affecting his career as a leading man. “Now, I’m doing villain roles only if the script excites me,” he underlined.

He added that many scripts he receives portray antagonists as conventional characters designed solely to elevate the hero, leaving little room for novelty. “Since most of them are very normal and nothing extraordinary, I’ve chosen not to do such roles,” Sethupathi said.

Jailer 2 is currently in development, with further casting details expected to be announced soon.

Twenty-five years after Hera Pheri (2000), Tabu will be working with Akshay Kumar and director Priyadarshan on a new film. Their collaboration, Bhooth Bangla, marks a reunion which Tabu describes as nostalgic, surprising, and oddly familiar all at once.

Speaking about her first day on set, Tabu says, “I didn’t know what to expect. I hadn’t worked with Akshay after Hera Pheri, and we hadn’t even met socially very often over the years. I had stayed in touch with Priyan, so I knew he would be exactly the same person.”

That instinct, she says, was right. “There’s absolutely no change in Priyan. He’s still as impatient, still as vocal about what he feels. He’s still the one-take director. But, of course, time has passed. We’ve all grown in different directions and are now back to work with each other again. In some ways, we’re different people now.”

Her Hera Pheri co-star, Akshay Kumar, however, seems untouched by time. “His humour and energy are the same. He still wakes up at 4 am, finishes early, and heads home, which is a very good thing for the rest of us. He always says, ‘jaldi sona chahiye,’ and reminds everyone he doesn’t go to parties. That part of him hasn’t changed at all. Of course, we’ve all grown up now, but the essence of who he is – that’s still the same.”

Tabu did not have any releases in 2025, but she has been shooting for projects back-to-back. She says, “I finished two movies this year – Bhooth Bangla and a Puri Jagannadh directorial starring Vijay Sethupathi, which releases in Tamil and Telugu. Both films will be released next year. I shot for a south film five years after my last movie, Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo. It felt good to be home again in Hyderabad. It’s an intimate film industry. 2025 has been a very satisfying year. I was busy shooting from January to September, and in 2026, I will have two releases.”

Actor Vijay Sethupathi has found himself at the centre of controversy after an X user accused him of sexual exploitation.

On Monday, user Ramya Mohan made a post claiming that a young woman was undergoing rehabilitation after facing manipulation under the guise of industry norms.

The actor has now responded with a statement addressing the accusations. “Anyone who knows me even remotely will laugh at this. I know myself too. This kind of filthy accusation can’t upset me,” it read. Vijay also accused the poster of “obviously doing it to be noticed. She has her few minutes of fame, let her enjoy it.”

In a post that has since been deleted, Ramya had alleged that the actor “has offered ₹2L for ‘caravan favors’, ₹50k for ‘drives’ (sic).” While she did not name the young woman — a “known face in media” — or specify a timeline of events, she said that the woman faced Kollywood’s “transactional exploitation” and “drug-sex nexus.”

She concluded the post with, “It’s insane how some insensitive morons are focused on blaming the victim than acknowledging the truth.” Interestingly, the account has now been deactivated.

Meanwhile, Vijay shared that a cybercrime complaint has been filed and noted, “Such targeting has not affected me so far. It never will.”

Surya Sethupathi is no stranger to cinema, having worked as a child actor in the past. Now, ready to begin his new chapter as a lead actor, the debutant — son of superstar Vijay Sethupathi — believes he couldn’t have asked for a better launch vehicle than Phoenix, directed by Anal Arasu.

“I’ve always been around cinema just by being with Appa and observing him. When Phoenix came to me, it felt like the right place to begin, not because it was designed as a launch, but because it felt honest,” says the actor, who portrays a Mixed Martial Arts fighter in the action drama.

A lot of training went into becoming the character. Surya says, “There was fitness, boxing drills, and understanding how fighters move and think. But beyond the physical part, it was about [understanding] this character’s silence and his scars. He doesn’t say much, but there’s a lot going on beneath the surface.”

Being Vijay’s son brings both attention and expectations. As he follows in his father’s footsteps, Surya is aware of his privilege and the responsibilities it comes with.

“There is definitely the weight [of pressure]. But I see it as a responsibility. I’ve watched Appa work with so much respect for the craft, and such humility. If I can carry even a little of that forward, I’ll feel I’m on the right path. I want to make him proud — not by copying his journey, but by building mine with the same values. I’ve had access and the privilege of being Vijay Sethupathi’s son. But staying here and earning respect is entirely on me. I hope people give me the space to grow on my own terms.”

With his latest release Ace receiving positive reactions from fans, actor Vijay Sethupathi’s aspiration continues to be stardom.

“I believe I’m a star because I can bring the audience to theatres, engage them, act convincingly, entertain them and make an impact with the story being told,” Vijay says, revealing that his perception of what makes a star is different from the norm.

While he’s known for films such as Merry Christmas (2024), Vikram (2022) and Super Deluxe (2019), the actor has a different way of measuring the success of commercial cinema. He explains, “Commercial cinema is not about those mass appeal elements, but about ensuring we recover the money invested in making the film. [It] should give the audience highs within the story being told and through my performance. This is what I’ve been trying to do.”

Vijay adds that he grateful for the love he gets from fans. “The least I can do for my fans is click a selfie. What else am I going to do for them in life?” he says.

The 47-year-old goes on to reveal that he approaches each film with a “trial and error” mindset and insists he is not risk-averse: “Many people told me not to do villain roles as it would affect my career. Why should I fear? If I had fear, a middle-class boy like me would not have ventured into cinema. I can’t be in a safe zone all the time, where acting is concerned.”

“As an artiste, it’s beautiful to see the audience connect with your music. Everything we create is for them, and when they sing and vibe along with us, it feels like everything has come full circle,” shares Shilpa Rao, who has kicked off 2025 with Edho Pesathaane, a melody she has sung with actor Siddharth for the movie Bun Butter Jam.

Interestingly, the song marks actor Vijay Sethupathi’s debut as a lyricist! In an interaction with us, the Kaavaalaa singer shares how women are influencing the music industry these days, why she wants to keep pushing boundaries and her preference for in-person recordings over virtual ones. Excerpts:

As a female artiste, one of the most important changes I have noticed is the greater exposure and opportunity for women in this field. When I started out, there were fewer places where women’s voices were given importance. I’ve noticed a change towards the breakdown of stereotypes over time. Things are slowly but surely changing for female singers. I hope we continue to move towards a space where stories and narratives are created that are fair and beneficial for all genders. These days, women are leading, creating, and influencing the music industry in ways that were uncommon in the past.

I didn’t get the chance to meet both Vijay Sethupathi and Siddharth while working on this particular song, but I’ve met them earlier, and those were memorable experiences. They are very knowledgeable, and our conversations covered topics like music, art, acting, and even food. We talked about how art has the power to bring people together emotionally, and they shared their thoughts on storytelling and how every form of art ultimately aims to connect with the audience. They are incredible artistes whose work I admire.

My process for choosing a song is very simple. I listen to the tune, and if I connect with it, I decide to go ahead. That’s exactly what happened with Edho Pesathaane. I will never forget the experience of recording it. Composer Nivas K Prasanna and I discussed the feelings expressed in Vijay Sethupathi’s lyrics, as it was more important to feel every word and allow that passion to resonate in my voice.

My current aspiration is to continue evolving as an artiste and explore new musical landscapes. I want to collaborate with diverse talents, experiment with different genres, and create music that deeply connects with listeners. Beyond that, I want to contribute to the growth of the music community by supporting emerging artistes and sharing what I’ve learnt over the years with them. I want to keep pushing boundaries while staying true to my roots, ensuring my music continues to inspire and resonate with people across generations.

There is a huge difference between virtual and in-person recordings. I prefer recording in the studio with the composer and the music team. These recordings provide a dynamic environment as everyone, be it the engineer, producer, or composer, participates and exchanges ideas in real time. It encourages a more natural flow of creation. You can start experimenting, adjust your emotions, and work together to figure out what suits the song best.

Kunal Kapoor, who began his Bollywood journey as a lead actor nearly two decades ago, is now making a mark in the south film industries, particularly in antagonist roles. Following his performances in Veeram (Malayalam) and Devadas (Telugu), Kunal shared that he feels more satisfied in his career, especially when portraying negative characters.

In an exclusive interview with Hyderabad Times, he spoke about his upcoming Telugu film Vishwambhara, where he stars alongside Chiranjeevi. “Playing an antagonist is more exciting than the protagonist. There are no rules to follow. For a long time, I was stuck in certain roles, but it’s incredible how south filmmakers are seeing me in a whole new way now,” he said.

Working with Chiranjeevi sir has been an absolute pleasure — he’s among the kindest and most supportive co-stars. He’s truly a legend, both on and off the screen. I’ve always been a huge fan of Chiranjeevi garu. Back in the day, I had a vast collection of videotapes, and Aaj Ka Goondaraj (Gang Leader in Telugu) along with his Hindi debut Pratibandh were part of it. The last film of his that stood out to me was Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy. Though he’s a Megastar on screen, he’s incredibly down to earth in real life. I remember during an action scene, I felt a slight twinge in my shoulder, and the first thing he asked was, ‘Is your shoulder okay?’ It’s rare to meet someone of his stature who is so thoughtful and concerned about everyone on set.

When I started, the roles I was offered were all very similar. Back then, a hero was expected to fit a certain mould, but now even the idea of a hero has changed. Audiences seem to prefer anti-heroes over traditional ones, and I feel fortunate to explore these grey-shaded characters, especially in south films. In the Malayalam film Veeram, I was given a role that no one in Hindi cinema was offering me end of the year.at the time. Director Jairaj saw something in me that the Hindi film industry didn’t, and I’m enjoying this new phase as an actor.

This is an incredible time for actors and technicians, with collaborations across industries becoming more common. South films like Baahubali, RRR, and Kalki 2898 AD have broken language barriers and are being watched nationwide. As an actor, it’s exciting to explore diverse roles in different regions. The content today is outstanding — like the Tamil film Maharaja, which became the most-watched film, largely thanks to OTT platforms making it accessible to wider audiences. It’s amazing to see people appreciating films beyond their language. Everywhere I’ve been, from Bombay to Hyderabad, people have been praising Vijay Sethupathi sir’s performance in that film.

I’m working on Jewel Thief with Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat, followed by a mythological project, Ramayana, alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi, with shooting starting soon. I’ve also ventured into writing and recently completed a script for an action-packed vigilante series, which is set to begin production by the end of the year.

Popular web shows Farzi and The Family Man are both helmed by filmmakers Raj and DK. In the former’s maiden season last year, they teased a crossover between the Shahid Kapoor-led show and the Manoj Bajpayee-starrer. Now, actor Bhuvan Arora, who was seen in Farzi, almost confirms it.

Arora shares, “The shoot of The Family Man 3 is almost complete, and Raj and DK will move on to Rakht Brahmand soon. In Farzi, there was a crossover with (actor) Vijay Sethupathi sir’s character going to Tiwari’s (Bajpayee’s character) office. There will be a link between the two shows in The Family Man 3, too. But I can’t talk about it right now.”

Sharing an update on the second season of Farzi, he says, “Everyone is busy right now with their individual projects, including Raj and DK, Shahid and me. We are aiming to begin the shoot next year.”

Mention to Arora that the West churns out a new season for their shows every year while in India, there is a long gap between seasons, and he says, “That is also because both the industries function differently. Here, a new season is mostly sanctioned after the success of the previous one, whereas in the West, many studios immediately ask for three seasons upfront.”

Currently, he has three web shows in his kitty, besides his Tamil debut film. “I am excited to see myself speak Tamil on screen. I have dubbed for it,” he ends.

Vijay Sethupathi reached a milestone of 50 films with the Tamil thriller Maharaja, which hit screens recently. The actor, who has become a pan-Indian star with films like Jawan, Merry Christmas and Super Deluxe, looks back on his journey so far, his current state of mind, his kids and how he maintains a work-life balance despite being one of the busiest actors in the country. Excerpts:

All I wanted was at least become a serial actor. I’m not putting down acting in serials by saying this. At that time, my thinking was that since there were so many serials being made, it would be easier for me to get a break in TV. One day, someone told me I was a hero, and I lost sleep that night. Over time, I got used to that word. And I realized that things had started moving in this direction only after I’d gradually started believing I could be a hero; I’d have gone crazy if someone had called me a hero right when I started out.

I used to feel embarrassed to say that I was an actor. These days, people are more accepting of acting aspirations, but that was not the case back then. Also, I didn’t know if I had the qualities to call myself an actor.

It was when audiences started clapping when I appeared on screen in Soodhu Kavvum that I realized that they have accepted me. When I saw myself on screen after Thenmerku Paruvakkaatru (his debut film as a hero), I felt happy that I’d become a hero.

From around 2008-09, I started observing aspiring directors passionately watching and talking about films, and I realised that there was something about cinema. A series on international films in a Tamil magazine made me learn how to watch cinema.

I began with Life Is Beautiful and started watching more films. I was confident that I’d begin to understand the knack of acting one day. So, I did all the things that might put me on that path... from watching films to discussing films with those who know what cinema is.

When I was working in Dubai, I was earning 1,000 dirhams. When I moved to another company, I got 2,000 dirhams. When I thanked my employer, he said that God fulfills all my needs, and he was just one of the people who were meant to make it happen. At that time, I was a staunch believer and trusted it completely. I still continue to believe it (he’s now an atheist). What we need is right in front of us; earlier, I did not know that, but now, I know it exists and am searching for it. It’s like in an Aladdin video game — the treasure would be hidden in select places and if the character went to a specific spot, he’d get coins or points. Likewise, I believed what I was seeking was somewhere around me. If you have a goal, the lessons you learn during its pursuit will tell you if you’re nearing your destination.

I have only earned happiness. Maybe I might have gotten a peek behind the masks that some people around me were wearing, but I don’t really blame anyone because the fault could have even been with me. I believe that’s the maturity I’ve developed; I’m responsible for both the good and bad that have happened to me.

My kids have grown up, so I think I’ve now reached that stage where I’m starting to get relieved of my responsibilities as a parent. According to me, for the first 5-6 years, you should give them motherly love, Then, for five years from the ages 17 or 18, as a father, you should give them the guidance, discipline, rebuke and a little bit of love.

I want to make my kids understand the world, life, myself, my actions, both good and bad. I try to discuss everything with them. I do not want to create only a good image about myself with my kids. So, as much as possible, I try to be open with them. It’s enough if they understand aspects about life. I always tell them not to take my words as the ultimate truth just because I’m their dad. They can decide their own lives instead of me having to do it for them.

I spend as much time as possible with my family. I tell stories to my kids. Even a couple of weeks ago, I told my daughter, who is 16, a story with a random set of words that I asked her to give me, like an elephant, a fox, a cabbage and carrot farm, a bee! I also drop her at school whenever possible. I did the first shave of my son and celebrated his milestone with a function, just like how people celebrate when girls attain puberty. I don’t post all these on Instagram, but shoot these memories on my phone, and watch them when I’m away for shoots.

I did not do Jawan expecting some quid pro quo in terms of my career. I wanted to work with a star like Shah Rukh sir and a director like Atlee. Every film Atlee has directed so far has been a hit, so I wanted to learn how he carries this success.

And, by working with a star like Shah Rukh sir, I also get to be known beyond the set of people who may have heard of me. He’s someone who I’ve looked at in wonder. So, in case I have some inhibitions or a sense of inferiority complex, working with people who I’ve looked up to — be it Rajini sir or Kamal sir or Shah Rukh sir or Vijay sir or the female actresses — helps shatter my inhibitions and grow in confidence. To stand shoulder to shoulder with them and perform seeing them eye to eye helps an introvert like me to get out of my cocoon.

Vijay Sethupathi, after starring as an antagonist in successful films such as Vikram Vedha (2017) and Jawan (2023), is done with such roles. “I don’t want to play villain and guest roles going forward. I have turned down such roles in recent times. When you do multiple roles in the same space (as an antagonist), then there are also limitations and comparisons to your earlier films and performances,” he tells us.

Asked if there are any Tamil actors he would like to act with in a potential hero-villain setup, and the 46-year-old added, “No, I think I’m fatigued by such films. This is because I’ve had some good and bad experiences in the Indian film industry.”

The Vikram (2022) and Merry Christmas actor goes on to add, “When you sign on a film with another star, you obviously know what you are signing on for in terms of the role. But, sometimes, no matter how hard you have worked and done well, there’s very minimal value given to this at the end of the day. Because you contribute to the film as much as the star, but no one talks about it.”

He will next be seen in director Nithilan Swaminathan’s Maharaja, Viduthalai 2, as well in a silent film called Gandhi Talks

Sriram Raghavan stumbled upon a gripping story of one night when he read a French novel. Next, that meticulous mind of his—which has crafted some of Bollywood’s most entertaining thrillers— sprang into action. The filmmaker bought most available versions of the book because he was certain that he wanted to tell this story on the big screen. That’s how Merry Christmas began.

He recalls, “One-night stories are a challenge. I loved Yash Chopra’s Ittefaq [1969]. This story had shades of that. I bought off the books, only six of them were available. I bought as many Kindle versions as I could. What drew me to the story is that it’s nothing like Andhadhun [2018], Johnny Gaddaar [2007] or Badlapur [2015]. It is in that genre, but is a more emotional story.”

Raghavan considers himself a mainstream commercial director. After all, his last directorial venture, Andhadhun earned Rs. 457 crore globally. And yet, his films are set in a twisted world that’s rarely seen in mainstream Hindi cinema. The Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi-starrer too promises to be a wild ride.

“Commercial filmmakers must up the ante. When Andhadhun did fabulous business, my next step wasn’t to double the business. I’m fearful of f***ing up the original with a bad sequel. I wanted to make a film just as great, but entirely different from it. I’m easily bored of mundane stories. I’ve grown up on commercial cinema, and I wouldn’t be happy if I made a movie that people don’t get. But at the same time, I don’t believe in spoon-feeding my audience. In Merry Christmas, if you miss a conversation while checking your phone, then you might miss how it ties in at the climax.”

Having the backing of commerce allows him the liberty to take risks—from the unusual casting to the decision to go bilingual. With Merry Christmas, Raghavan has fulfilled his long-standing wish.

Raghavan says, “I wanted to make one Tamil movie in my life. Merry Christmas started off as a Hindi movie. When COVID [and the lockdown] happened, we had to break down the set in Mehboob Studios. We had time in our hand and that’s when we had the idea to take the Tamil route. It looked like a great way of opening up another avenue to cut down on our costs. Katrina was always on board. But Vijay’s casting was unusual. When we first met in Melbourne, he mentioned how he wanted to remake Badlapur. In that conversation, I felt Vijay could be the one, and then narrated the film to him on a Zoom call. After Vijay said yes, I had to convince Ramesh Taurani. I made him watch Super Deluxe [2019] and 96 [2018], and he was on board.”

With the Tamil version, came a new team to pen it. While the Hindi version is credited to Raghavan, Arijit Biswas, Pooja Ladha Surti and Anukriti Pandey, the Tamil counterpart is written by Pratheep Kumar S, Abdul Jabbar, Prasanna Bala Natarajan and Lata Karthikeyan. Writing the film was like being in “parallel chess rooms”, says the director.

“The Hindi and Tamil teams worked independently. We gave them the reins to tweak [the scenes] to suit the Tamil audience’s taste. Sometimes, they would write such a brilliant scene that I would tell my team, ‘Let’s remove our scene and put theirs.’”

Even the casting was a blend of two different universes. How was it to have Kaif and Sethupathi work together on a set? “It was a whimsical casting move. They are strangers in the movie. I wanted to make them have lunch together, but they couldn’t talk to each other. With enough rehearsals, we soon found our equilibrium. Before shooting the most crucial scene, you would find Vijay eating vada pav; he would chill, not psych himself. But the moment he came on camera, he’d be bang on. Katrina studied to the T.”

A discussion on the cast brings us to the ones who weren’t cast. Much has been said about Saif Ali Khan being the first choice for the film. Raghavan clarifies it, stating, “I met him even before the script was ready. It’s like giving someone a present and then taking it away. It wasn’t nice of me.”

There’s another question that users on X want an answer to: Why was Tabu, who was smashing in Andhadhun, not cast as the lead in Merry Christmas? “Tabu would have been my most obvious choice. Katrina was a break-the-mould casting. I want to work again with Tabu, but we have to top Andhadhun when we pair up next!”

Actor Vijay Sethupathi, who is looking forward to the release of his next film alongside Katrina Kaif, recently shared a poignant account of his experience with body shaming. The Tamil star, gaining popularity among Hindi audiences, opened up about the criticism he endured regarding his appearance. “Main aisa hi tha, body shaming bohot kiya tha mujhe. But the good thing is that people accept you the way you are. Today, wherever I go, I am accepted; it is a blessing. It’s all thanks to my audience that I am happy being myself. I didn’t expect this; I didn’t,” he told The Indian Express.

Addressing how the online chatter about his casual dressing sense and “chappals” at high-profile events makes him feel “conscious,” he said, “Chappal pehnega toh simple matlab kya? But sometimes I am conscious about that also. So, I try to avoid going for get-togethers and meetings; otherwise, I am comfortable.”

In an interactive masterclass at the ongoing 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, multiple award-winning actor Vijay Sethupathi, in conversation with actor-politician Kushboo Sundar, asked everyone “not to take the conversations too seriously or as a class” while entering the stage. He was in Goa for the first-ever silent film, Gandhi Talks, to be played at the festival, and began by stating, “It’s not a class at all. I don’t even know what to do in front of a camera. Just treat me like one of you. Let’s create and share. And if you don’t understand my language, please refer to my face.”

The actor, who has showcased his talent in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi films, when asked if he is a method or a spontaneous actor, said, “I don’t know what the method of acting is. When a director is narrating a script, I wonder why he’s telling the story and why he wanted to make the story. I ask a lot of stupid questions. I understand the essence, and I try to understand the director who’s telling the story. But I don’t follow any formula.”

The actor, who recently played a villain in Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Jawan, said that he will take a break from playing antagonist characters: “There are many pressures and restrictions. They (makers or writers) try to stop the character from dominating the hero. (But now) I will take a break and focus on playing the protagonist and character roles.”

When the 45-year-old was asked if he always wanted to become an actor, Sethupathi explained, “I can’t focus on anything continuously, nor do I have the consistency to keep at one thing... During my childhood, I enrolled in learning how to play mridangam in T.Nagar, Chennai, but after one week, I quit the class. That’s how I am. My intention was to become a businessman and earn a lot of money. But I ended up here.”

Pointing out that everyone was formally dressed at the opening ceremony and only he was different in a blue shirt and jeans, the 45-year-old told Kushboo, “I looked like an alien that night... But everything designer is very expensive, and I am like this. I can’t be comfortable in a suit... But I was insecure when I was there, to be honest.”

Before becoming an actor, Sethupathi was an accountant in Dubai, and during the session, he thanked his wife, Jessy, for not letting him go back to his regular job: “I was just living, going with the flow. Then I fell in love during a wedding in India, got married, and my wife didn’t let me return to Dubai. Then cinema happened.”

The couple apparently met on social media in 2002, got married the following year, now are parents to two children: Surya and Shreeja.

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As Goa gears up to host the 54th edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) starting November 20, there’s a lot in store for movie buffs to look forward to. While the film screenings, masterclass and in-conversation sessions with the members of the film fraternity are the high point of the 9-day film extravaganza, the star presence at IFFI is going to be on an all-time high this year. 

Starting from Salman Khan who will be attending the gala premiere of his production Farrey that marks the debut of his niece Alizeh Agnihotri, Sara Ali Khan and Karan Johar bringing their film Ae Watan Mere Watan at the festival, to Pankaj Tripathi at the screening of his film Kadak Singh, IFFI has quite a glitzy line-up of celebs present for their respective film premieres. Others names that are going to be present for their film premiers include actors Aditi Rao Hydari, Sanjana Sanghi, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Urvashi Rautela, Prachi Desai, Parvathy Thiruvothu and Akshay Oberoi.

Not just the red carpet premiers, the masterclass and in-conversation sessions, too, are going to be driven by star power and some extremely meaningful conversations on a variety of subjects pertaining to film business. Some of the speakers would include Sunny Deol, Vidya Balan, Rani Mukerji, Manoj Bajpayee, Boney Kapoor, Dolly Ahluwalia and the cast of web show The Railway Men - actors R Madhavan, Babil Khan, Kay Kay Menon and Divyenndu Sharma, alongside filmmaker Rahul Rawail, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, directors Kartiki Gonsalves, Jasmeet K. Reen and Raj & DK, producers Guneet Monga and Apoorva Bakshi and sound designer Resul Pookutty.

Besides members from the Hindi film industry, several top names from the South film industries are also going to make their presence felt at the film festival. Vijay Sethupathi will be in conversation with actor Khushbu Sunder, while Naga Chaitanya will be in attendance for the gala premier of his project Dhootha.

The 54th International Film Festival of India will see the participation from some of the biggest names in Indian cinema, many of whom got National Film Awards, returning to that famed red carpet. The festival, which will be held in Goa from November 20 to 28, will have a total of 270 screenings - including premiers of foreign films and restored Indian classics.

This year, Michael Douglas will be presented with the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in world cinema.

The festival will also continue with its segments from last year such as- gala premieres, Film Bazaar's book to screen segment, IFFI cine mela, Creative Minds of Tomorrow and all Film Bazaar's sessions.

In a first, Best OTT series award will be presented at IFFI. As per officials, "A total of 32 entries have been received in 10 languages from 15 OTT platforms."

- Over 270 films will be showcased during the festival at four venues.

-‘International section’ of the 54th IFFI will have 198 films, which 18 more than last year. It will have 13 world premiers, 18 international premiers, 62 Asia premiers and 89 India premiers.

- The opening film is international premiere of UK film Catching Dust by director Stuart Gatt

- The mid-fest film is India premiere of About Dry Grasses by Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan

- The Featherweight by director Robert Kolodny from the United States is the closing film. It is the Asia premiere of the film.

IFFI has scheduled a lineup of over 20 ‘masterclasses’ and ‘in conversation’ sessions with eminent filmmakers, cinematographers, and actors. From international names like Michael Douglas, Brendan Galvin, Brillante Mendoza, Theodore Gluck, John Goldwater to Rani Mukerji, Vidya Balan, Vijay Sethupathi, Sara Ali Khan, Pankaj Tripathi, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Kay Kay Menon, Karan Johar, Madhur Bhandarkar, Manoj Bajpayee, Kartiki Gonsalves, Boney Kapoor, Allu Aravind, Gulshan Grover and Sunny Deol are expected to attend these sessions.

Restored classics section will feature 7 world premieres of restorations done by NFDC-NFAI under the National Film Heritage Mission (NFHM) from the damaged celluloid reels.

Director: Debaki Bose

Director: P K Atre

Director: K V Reddy

Director: Vijay Anand

Director: Chetan Anand

Director: Mrinal Sen

Director: Biren Nag

Given that it marks his first pan-India screen outing, Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan, it was expected, would draw large crowds. Unsurprisingly, the Tamil and Telugu dubbed versions of the film have opened to approximately Rs 8 crores, making it the first Hindi film to breach this figure in this region.

Chennai-based box-office tracker Ramesh Bala says the film’s appreciable collections could also be attributed to the fact that it has been helmed by Tamil director Atlee. “Atlee and his team have smartly designed the film as a proper Tamil masala outing. It caters to the south Indian market and appears like a Tamil masala film starring a Hindi movie star,” he says.

That it also features south stars Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupathi has further drawn masses from this region, he adds. An industry source shares that the performance of Jawan in this market may propel male stars to look for collaborations with south filmmakers. “Atlee made a Tamil film with the biggest Bollywood star without compromising on his style. Many actors may [follow suit].”

However, calling Jawan a model film is still far-fetched, says Bala. “It is not a benchmark yet. It’s an exception. We will have to see how upcoming Bollywood films perform in the region,” he says.

While the preview of Jawan has made Shah Rukh Khan’s fans restless for its release, the superstar and director Atlee are working relentlessly to make sure the film matches the audience’s expectations. On Tuesday, Khan wrapped up the shoot of the special song sequence that sees him with leading lady Nayanthara. But it’s not a wrap yet for the action drama’s team. We hear the actor-director duo began the patchwork shoot at Yash Raj Studios in Andheri, on Wednesday.

A source from the production team reveals, “We have three more days of work left. On the cards is the shoot of filler action sequences featuring Shah Rukh Khan. The remaining cast—Vijay Sethupathi, Nayanthara, Sanya Malhotra and Priyamani—have long finished their portions. In the next few days, the team will finish the insert sequences, and Atlee can call it a wrap on July 21.”

The movie, which marks the Bollywood debut of Tamil filmmaker Atlee, relies heavily on special effects. The source adds that the VFX work is underway.

Going by the massive reaction to Jawan’s teaser, trade circles predict that it will have a stronger opening than Khan’s January release, Pathaan.