I don’t like to disappoint my audiences: Vijay Sethupathi

The actor, who is awaiting the release of Orange Mittai where he plays the role of a 55-year-old stubborn man, says that he loves to experiment with diverse roles and characters.

“Playing that character reminded me of my father. We have fought a lot, but those fights have made me close to him. Every son and father will relate to the movie,” he says. “I believe that the script is the hero and is more important than my image. I have had the Orange Mittai script with me for some time now but no producer was willing to back it. So now I have decided to produce it myself. The script is close to my heart,” he adds.

Vijay likes to choose stories that are new to him. “I see that most films are invariably recycled, and telling the same stories over and over. Of course, there’s this expectation from audiences every time — as to what I will do differently. I don’t like to disappoint my audiences. I choose my scripts carefully. When I do a role, I become the character, so that when people see me onscreen, they can associate with me well,” Vijay tells DC.

“I still can’t believe how far I have travelled from an ordinary middleclass guy to stardom. Nothing is easy in cinema. Would you believe if I say that I was even rejected for a junior artiste role? But nothing stopped me from trying,” shrugs Vijay. A native of Rajapalayam in Chennai, Vijay completed B.Com and worked as an accountant in Dubai for three years.

“I was bored with my job and I came to Chennai and had a photo-shoot with a studio near Vadapalani. A person who was there told me that I had a photogenic face, which prompted me to get into films. That’s how it all started,” Vijay recalls. “Now, I am in a position to choose what I want. But I have never done any ‘safe’ movie. With my hard work, whatever I have done so far, has worked well at box office. Every movie is team work,” Vijay smiles.

The actor talks about how he put on weight after Soodhu Kavvum but never managed to lose it. “Luckily, that suited a few films including Orange Mittai,” he laughs. So, what does he do when he’s not shooting? “I rarely get to spend time with my family. But whatever time I have, I take them for night rides, I tell them stories and put them to sleep,” he says.

Vijay confesses that he loves the thrill of good dialogue and the buzz of a good shot. “My daughter says, ‘Appa, you don’t go to work, but how is it possible’?” he chuckles. So, ask him if he’s happy with the way he’s has been progressing? “The day I became a hero, my dream was fulfilled. I have no fear of going after my dreams,” he signs off.