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00:00So you will, there at the school, you learn about human beings and what other families
00:05are functioning and what other kids are bringing, especially suppose you're going and sitting
00:11with your friends for lunch time, you may be with the curd rice, somebody may be with
00:15biryani, somebody may be have vegetables, something, something is there.
00:18So it shows that different kinds of people and families are there.
00:22Mood of the character is very important.
00:25So generally I crack jokes in a serious time also, but here I am not allowed, even for
00:33a small, small timing was very important for others.
00:37People laugh in that scene, which you don't want that they shouldn't laugh because of
00:40me.
00:41Good afternoon.
00:42This is Manjusha Radhakrishnan from Gulf News and the entertainment editor.
00:51And today I have a very special guest with us today.
00:53Our very Dubai boy, I would call him actor Vijay Sethupathi, of course, he's one of the
00:58most bankable actors in South India and a star of like people who love Tamil cinema
01:04and now even Hindi cinema after Jawan.
01:06Vijay, thank you so much for speaking to us.
01:09Firstly, are you happy coming back to Dubai?
01:11Your trailer was launched at Burj Khalifa.
01:15Burj Khalifa, yeah, it was very much happy.
01:19Really?
01:20Do you like, I know you were from like Dubai.
01:23And seeing yourself surrounded by fans, does it feel surreal for you?
01:27Always, always.
01:28This is Sheikh Zayed Road, right?
01:29Yes, yes.
01:30What you see, yes.
01:31I put free ads paper also here, this side.
01:33You put what?
01:34Free ads paper.
01:35Really?
01:36Thursday morning, it was like two months ago.
01:39You worked like that?
01:40Part time.
01:41Part time.
01:42So you are a hustler, no, Vijay?
01:43Hustler means?
01:44Hustler means you hustle, like you can do multiple jobs in Dubai?
01:48I came to earn money at that time, 1000 dirhams was my salary, so 1000 plus 300 dirhams, accommodation
01:55and food.
01:56So that's not enough for the family.
01:58So I was searching for a part time job.
02:00So I was keep on asking somebody, is there any part time job for Friday, Friday.
02:06So do you feel very proud of yourself now that, look at where you've reached as well.
02:12I mean, it's a great, it's like a dream, it's like rags to riches, right?
02:16Not proud, happy, happy, because it is not all the dreams comes true in your life.
02:22But there are so many dreams of mine comes true.
02:26So I'm really, really excited to know the surprises of life.
02:35So life has so many surprises, and I had only dreams.
02:40And both got mixed in a very good way.
02:44Always it makes me happy.
02:45You know, I think of my old times.
02:50So where I was focusing myself, that gives me hope, okay, I was right in my past days.
02:58And Maharaja, it looks like a very good crime thriller.
03:02You're a director's actor, you surrender yourself to the director, or how does it work for you?
03:07Both.
03:08I surrender myself to the director, that's first.
03:10And then I do discuss, I do come up with ideas.
03:14I don't know, my ideas is great.
03:16But my ideas depend on my director's choice.
03:19So I do come up with my ideas.
03:21Most of the time, it's okay with my director.
03:25So it is not only director's actor, both.
03:28With this character, what was the process like?
03:31What was his brief to you?
03:33And what did you bring to the table?
03:35He's a kind of introvert and then very calm and silent person.
03:38Sometimes when the character is like this, it was very difficult to engage the audience
03:44or entertain the audience.
03:45Because the engagement and entertainment is only based on the script.
03:48It is not based on the star and his behavior.
03:51So it's very, very difficult to bring the audience focus on my work.
03:59Because the major plot is on the script, it is not based on the character.
04:05So it was very difficult, but somehow I managed to do it.
04:09Right.
04:10Do you still have to audition for your roles or is Vijay Sethupathi at a stage where nobody
04:15asks you to audition?
04:16Because in Hollywood it happens, Nicole Kidman, despite Oscar, she still auditions.
04:21It depends on the choice.
04:22If they want me to audition, I'll do it.
04:26You're open to it.
04:27It's not like, you know, I'm a star now, I don't need to.
04:29No, no.
04:30It's not like that.
04:31I'm open to it.
04:32It depends on who's asking.
04:33That's also there.
04:35That's so interesting you ask.
04:36Are you very...
04:37Who's asking?
04:38That's there.
04:39Why are they asking?
04:40With this, did you have to audition with this movie?
04:45No, no.
04:46Here, no.
04:47Because here, they come for me.
04:49They didn't audition and select me because they select me.
04:52Then we sit and discuss about the stories and all.
04:55Some people, if they need it, I need the explanations why I should do the audition.
05:01Right.
05:02Suppose if I'm going to a new region where people don't know me, or the director doesn't
05:07know my work.
05:08So, if he has any doubt on my work and he wants to check, then I don't mind doing auditions.
05:15Vijay, you're also with Anurag Kashyap in this film.
05:19What's your relationship like?
05:20I felt, I was telling Mamta also, that you both are a bit wacky.
05:24There's a bit crazy side in both of you.
05:26Maybe he's great in that.
05:29He's better in that.
05:30You think that?
05:31You're not as crazy?
05:32No, not like that.
05:33He's great.
05:34His ideas...
05:35His ideas are wackier than yours, crazier than yours.
05:38I saw recently Gangs of Wasseypur, that man, don't compare him with me, that's not good
05:44for him.
05:45That's not good for him.
05:46No, no, but you've done so well yourself.
05:48But still, he's a creator and he's a very good actor also in my film.
05:52He's much above than me.
05:54You know, if I look at your career, you've done some very, very dark roles as well.
05:58Both comic and dark and everything.
06:01You try to experiment, right?
06:02How do you know if it will land?
06:05Explore.
06:06Explore, not experiment.
06:07Not experiment, it's an explore.
06:09What is the difference though, of the two, like in your head?
06:11Experiment is, it's like, you know, it's like a series, whether it will run or not, whether
06:17the audience will like the film or not, you'll take some more cult films, maybe I think like
06:21that.
06:22Yes.
06:23Explore is like, oh, this is very interesting, the audience liked it, let's go and explore
06:27it and what is there.
06:28That's what I believe.
06:29Maybe I'm wrong.
06:30No, no, no.
06:31I mean, you, you give it, whenever I see you in a role, I feel you are that person.
06:35Yeah, experiments, some films, some stories are maybe, maybe everybody can't understand
06:40some.
06:41When I see some of films, maybe foreign films, anything, some films are experimental films,
06:46which everybody can't understand.
06:49So I don't want to do such films.
06:51I want my film should watch, everybody should watch my films.
06:55Right.
06:56This is also your 50th movie.
06:58Are you just happy with that number or do you keep count?
07:01No, I don't do that.
07:02You don't?
07:03Because people are saying this is your 50th, it's your landmark film, milestone.
07:06You don't think like that?
07:07Every film is a landmark film, every film is a milestone.
07:09So it's not like that.
07:1050th is just a number and then...
07:12What went through your mind when you read the script of Maharaja first?
07:15First thing, your first reactions?
07:17What were they?
07:18The way he created the plots in the story, that exited me so much.
07:22Yes.
07:23Even his first movie has like twists.
07:24Yes.
07:25So it had different twists.
07:28It was very kind of...
07:29It was much better than that.
07:30I shouldn't say much better.
07:32You can say it.
07:33No, no.
07:34Which means I'm putting that film down.
07:35Okay.
07:36Because I loved that film also.
07:37It was another version of Mithila.
07:41Do you still love the craft of movies as much, like acting?
07:46I remember seeing you in Goa, film festival, Khushboo was talking to you.
07:50You know, the way you were on stage at that time, it all looked like it was all a big
07:54accident.
07:55You know?
07:56Like everything happened to you.
07:57Everything was by design.
07:58So, do you still...
07:59I believe life is like that only.
08:02Only you dream or you wish for something and you work for that and rest everything life
08:10will design for you.
08:11That's what I believe.
08:12Really?
08:13Yeah, I believe that.
08:14But you have to work sincerely towards your dreams.
08:18Right.
08:19Vijay, everybody is starstruck by you, but you just now told me that it's not easy to
08:22work with big stars, right?
08:24Is it because you feel...
08:25I'm not saying it's not easy.
08:27That fellow who started the career, for him it was very difficult, no.
08:33For him.
08:34Not for the person who is currently...
08:36Now you're not intimidated, is it?
08:39I respect them.
08:40I respect them.
08:41I respect their work and everything.
08:43I only asked Shah Rukh sir, I said, I wanted to be a bad guy for you, sir.
08:47When he came for Vicky and Nayan's marriage, that's what happened.
08:51Right.
08:52Vijay, you've done so many in your career, it's a mixed bag.
08:55So some of them have become hits, some of them have not.
08:57It's too extreme.
08:58For everybody it's like that.
08:59There's no middle path for you.
09:01Yeah.
09:02Why is that?
09:03I don't know.
09:04My life is also like that.
09:06Sometimes I struggle, then I don't have middle.
09:08From here I jump here.
09:10And then I stay there for some time.
09:13It's not step by step, my life was not like that.
09:17Suddenly I came to Dubai.
09:19I was working there and one of my friends told me there is a company, go for an interview.
09:23I went there, suddenly they said, okay, selected.
09:28And then I don't have a passport.
09:30So I don't know anybody also.
09:34I applied for a passport and then I went to the commission office with my degree certificate
09:37and everything.
09:38I went and showed, sir, this is my decision card and degree certificate and everything.
09:43I don't know anybody, sir.
09:44So that police officer recommended me to my area police station.
09:48So they gave, without verifying me, they gave.
09:54So that's how I came.
09:55I came on November 6th.
09:58What year was it?
09:59Do you remember?
10:002000.
10:01November 6th, 2000.
10:02That's impressive.
10:03In 25 years, life has changed.
10:05Yes.
10:06Suddenly one day I decided to get married.
10:08I was second kid at home.
10:11My elder brother married after four years, I got married.
10:15When my daughter was conceived, that time only he got married.
10:18My wife was consumed by my daughter.
10:19Oh, okay.
10:20And then your wife said, don't go back to Dubai, no?
10:22In Goa, I remember you saying, why are you listening to your wife?
10:25Would you listen to your wife?
10:26No, no.
10:27Good things come out of it.
10:28First she said, don't go.
10:29Then after I tried for cinema, she said, go, go, go.
10:32Now does she eat her words?
10:35Now is she like, you know what, I'm Vijay Sethupathi's wife.
10:38No, she always don't like.
10:40She always don't like that I've become a hero or something.
10:44Why?
10:45Because you are with...
10:47Now only recently she's okay, but earlier she doesn't.
10:50But why not?
10:51I'm so surprised by it.
10:52She don't like me becoming an actor.
10:55What kind of a dad are you, by the way?
10:57Do you tell, are you like the hands-on dad?
11:00I don't know about these things, but I teach them about life.
11:05I share my experience with my kids and then I go and tell them where I was an idiot,
11:10how stupid I am, where I was wise and what decision I made.
11:15What are the cheap things I did.
11:17So everything I share and then I try to teach them what is life,
11:23how does human beings behave,
11:25what are the emotions and what is the purpose of money, life.
11:30So everything I share.
11:31So that's most important, how to survive.
11:33I want to teach them about life and I don't want them,
11:36my kids to have the burden of examinations.
11:39So I want them to learn and practice.
11:45But not for the examinations.
11:47That is so interesting that you say.
11:49Yeah.
11:50So going to school is not only for the studying.
11:55There are different, kids are coming from different families.
11:58So they are going to be the next society.
12:01You are going to live with them.
12:03Especially suppose you are going and sitting with your friends for lunch time.
12:06You may be with the curd rice, somebody may be with the biryani,
12:09somebody may be have vegetables, something, something is there.
12:13So it shows that different kinds of people and families are there.
12:16I try to teach them how to observe.
12:19Do they love the choice of your movies?
12:21Like for instance, Maharaja.
12:23Let's talk about that movie specifically.
12:25My daughter, I think my son also.
12:27He loved the film.
12:28He loved the film.
12:29And they saw all my films and they give critics also and they suggest me.
12:34My son especially, he always tell me two masala commercial films,
12:39two commercial films, he always tell me that.
12:41He likes commercial.
12:43He likes his commercial masala films.
12:45That's so cool.
12:46So he always tell me.
12:47He is doing a lead role in a film.
12:50So he is doing a masala film only.
12:52So maybe last five years, he started talking to me like,
12:57do this kind of films.
12:59My daughter also, she describes about screenplay very well.
13:03So both love your job.
13:05Clearly your wife has not been successful.
13:07I want to know what she thinks as a mom.
13:10Does she blame you?
13:11All because of you.
13:12No, no.
13:13My wife is a film addict.
13:16She is addict.
13:17She loves to watch films.
13:18When she watches films, she cries.
13:20It's emotional.
13:22She just mingles with films.
13:24But she doesn't want me to work in films.
13:27I love that.
13:28I am sure she is very supportive of you.
13:30Is there anything about Maharaja you want to tell us?
13:32Because UAE is a huge audience.
13:34We go and watch all the Tamil movies.
13:37Malayalam movies you should see.
13:38The smallest of Malayalam movies, we are their houseful.
13:40Supporting it.
13:41Now Malayalam films are rocking.
13:43I just love Premaloo.
13:45Did you see Avesham?
13:46Avesham I just started watching.
13:47But I watched Premaloo two times.
13:49I loved everybody in that film.
13:52Premaloo?
13:53Premaloo.
13:54Oh, it's such a cute movie.
13:55Such a cute movie.
13:56Everything.
13:57Songs, martis, locations, actors, dialogues, everything was so nice.
14:01And I loved it.
14:02Malayalam films are very...
14:03Now everybody is watching actually.
14:04Manjambabai also.
14:05Everybody is watching.
14:07We are having a moment.
14:08Because I am from Kerala.
14:09I feel Malayalam movies are having a moment.
14:11Even Tamil cinema.
14:12I think it's because of OTT, I think.
14:14People are not worried about language.
14:16They don't mind watching actors who don't look like them.
14:19It has to be that, right?
14:20At the end of the day.
14:21But we...
14:22When Malayalis and Tamil...
14:25We don't have that problem always.
14:27All Malayalis, they watch Tamil films.
14:29So we don't have a problem.
14:31No, we don't.
14:32We don't have the problem.
14:33You know what?
14:34About Maharaja.
14:35Yes.
14:37You will have very exciting, thrilling experience.
14:41And very interactive film.
14:43You will interact with the film always.
14:45Till the climax.
14:47And on interview, Mamata used a very good word.
14:51Guessing game.
14:53So it will be like that.
14:55So you keep...
14:57Guess something with the film.
14:59I think audience will not come and tell
15:01who is Lakshmi and then
15:03the plot of the film.
15:05I think they will let their friends and family
15:08to enjoy watching this film.
15:10Yes.
15:11So the director told you not to act too much.
15:13Don't give too much away.
15:14Because for Mamata, it was a problem.
15:16She was like, should I act more?
15:18Show a bit more?
15:19And director said, don't do too much.
15:21In your case, did you have that same problem?
15:23No, I didn't have it.
15:25Because they don't handle everybody in the same way.
15:27Because it depends on the characters what they do.
15:29Okay.
15:30So for me...
15:33The meter of meter
15:35or the mood of the character
15:37is very important.
15:39Generally, I crack jokes
15:41in a serious time also.
15:43But here, I am not allowed.
15:45Even for a small...
15:47Small timing is also very important.
15:49Otherwise, people laugh in that scene.
15:51You don't want that.
15:52They shouldn't laugh because of me.
15:54So he was careful about that.
15:56Stay in your lane.
15:57Yes, they laugh few times.
15:59But not always.
16:01For the purpose of the screenplay.
16:03It's so brilliant.
16:05Because you have done so well.
16:07If you are in a movie, you watch it.
16:09And I think that, as an actor, is the biggest...
16:11I feel.
16:12I hope it's a huge success.
16:14I hope you get...
16:15I don't know, what is this?
16:16100 crores? 200?
16:17What is the benchmark now?
16:18It's a good word.
16:19And I am sure your fans in Dubai will be clamoring.
16:21Trust me.
16:22Thank you so much.