Vijay Sethupathi Celebrates 50th Film Milestone with Blockbuster 'Maharaja'

With the release of his 50th movie, Maharaja, Vijay Sethupathi—unquestionably one of the most talented actors in the nation today—just passed a significant professional milestone. With Vijay playing a barber in the movie, which is helmed by Nithilan Swaminathan, it is poised to become the first Tamil film to gross over Rs 100 crore.

The 46-year-old reserved actor, who allows his work speak for itself off-screen and lets his silences speak on film, has played a variety of parts over the past 14 years, ranging from villain to hero. He is also known for his ability to deliver straight-faced comedy, and in 2019 he won a National Award for playing a transgender lady in the movie Super Deluxe. Sethupathi is known as "Makkal Selvan," which means "Treasure of the People," thanks to his outstanding performance on screen.

Sethupathi's work has expanded beyond of Tamil cinema; he has received appreciation from all around the world for the online series Farzi and the Hindi films Jawan and Merry Christmas.

Sethupathi discussed his professional turning point, how quickly he approves projects, and his feelings as a father as he prepares to introduce his 19-year-old son to the world in an exclusive interview with t2oS.

How does it feel to reflect on your career now that you are one of the biggest actors in the nation, fourteen years and fifty films in?

I see more than just myself and my work when I reflect on my career. Because of all those incredible filmmakers I had the pleasure of working with throughout the years, I am who I am today. I don't think my career would have progressed this far if they hadn't written jobs for me. Despite having missed a lot of opportunities in the past several years, I am merely thankful for all of the ones that have come my way and continue to do so.

Your fiftyth movie, Maharaja, has proven to be an actual box office success. Did you ever think the movie would be too gloomy for most people to enjoy?

I don't believe I ever anticipated it being gloomy. I get what you're attempting to communicate. We understood there would be a significant emotional component to it, but we also discussed the fact that it would be brutal. In contrast to typical hero-driven commercial films, Maharaja is free of gratuitous violence. This is the tale of a father who, in order to secure justice for his daughter, goes above and beyond.

We had a strong sense that the viewers would experience and feel the same emotions as the father does in the movie.

Although Maharaja wasn't intended to be your 50th movie, how does it feel to have reached this significant point in your career?

The fact that Maharaja would be my 50th release made me feel particularly honored. To be honest, I didn't want the mood to linger too long since I wanted the audience to have a memorable movie. My past few heroic movies didn't turn out well, and I was personally impacted by the outcome. I was cautious not to succumb to that kind of pressure while signing any film that came my way. The picture felt very honest when director Nithilan (Swaminathan) suggested the Maharaja scenario. I don't think it's a good idea to obsess over milestones because I think it would prevent me from trying new things.

Do you think that Maharaja's success has given you the courage and flexibility to try new things?

The accomplishment is encouraging for several reasons. My most recent releases didn't fare well at all, which is one of the key causes. In fact, I overheard people talking about the banners' purpose when no one showed up to see Maharaja's films when they were erected during their release. I'm relieved Maharaja addressed every query. I'll always choose to take on roles that require me to step outside of my comfort zone. Selecting roles that don't challenge me doesn't thrill me.

2018 saw the release of your 25th movie, and over the following six years, you completed 25 more. When most of your peers are finding it difficult to produce even two films annually, what is the secret to your prolific output?

To be honest, I didn't plan these releases; instead, I concentrated on doing my best job. I've also just played strong characters in a handful of these movies, and technically I'd be done shooting in a few weeks and moving on to my next project. Not all of them had me as the hero. This is one of the primary reasons I was able to finish a job quickly and go on to the next movie.

What about playing and assuming diverse roles still thrills you?

It is the excitement of taking on various roles and collaborating with filmmakers who have distinct perspectives. I started pursuing possibilities outside of the Tamil film business mostly because I wanted to work with interesting directors and portray characters that I would not be able to play elsewhere. I play the same character in Viduthalai 1 and 2, but we shot the second part months after the first's release, so it felt new to play the same character even though it stuck with me.

Do you still adhere to your recent declaration that you will no longer play antagonists?

Indeed, without a doubt. I believe that my acting career is over since I don't think I can add anything to these characters because of their limitations. I'm tired of being the bad guy, but I will still take on intriguing projects in other languages.

Surya, your son, is ready to make his acting debut. You recently attended the teaser premiere for his movie Phoenix. What guidance did you give him?

More than offering guidance, I questioned him if he still wanted to be an actor and warned him about the trip ahead—all the challenges and pressure he may encounter. I assured him that I would always be there to back him when he told me he was still interested. Given that he is only 19, this wasn't a planned move. One day, while flying from Bombay to Chennai, I met director Anl Arasu, who shared a tale concept with me. I assumed he was trying to sell me on the idea of collaborating on it. After completing the story, he informed me that he was interested in casting my son. Since I wasn't sure, I advised him to ask Surya if he would be interested.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Press Time staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.