The man of the masses Vijay Sethupathi is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film Junga, which has been made with a budget of Rs 20 crore. The actor chats with DC about why he chose to produce the movie, the perceived unrest in the state, his entry into politics and acting with Rajini and his efforts to give up smoking.
What’s Junga about?
It’s about a stingy don whose every action ends in hilarity. Circumstances force him to travel from a small town in Tamil Nadu to Paris, to battle a mob. I play the lead role, while Sayeesha and Madonna play the female leads in this movie directed by Gokul.
You can make good money acting. Why have you chosen to get into film production?
I don’t come from a cinema background. And I want to put an end to the fake reports circulated in the industry which suggest Sethupathi films do only so much business. That’s why I’m producing my own film. Moreover, Junga required a huge investment, and I don’t want to jeopardise any producer. I wanted to shoulder that responsibility myself. Later, I was joined by Arun Pandian sir.
You seem to have a penchant for out-of-the-box characters
I am not keen on the routine hero-centric subject. There needs to be something in the script that fascinates me. I’ve always believed that the role should choose an actor, and not the other way round. In every character that I’ve played, a new facet of mine has surfaced.
Even now, I’m playing a lot of different characters in my upcoming flicks. In 96, I play a travel photographer; in Seethakathi, I am a septuagenarian; and in Super Deluxe you’ll see me as a transgender. Money is secondary, my passion is acting.
What do you think of the current state of affairs in TN?
There’s unrest in Tamil Nadu right now, and people need a good leader. People have witnessed the rule of both the DMK and the AIADMK so far, and they will sound their verdict during the elections. I hope the situation improves.
You’ve raised your voice for various social causes such as Jallikattu, the empowerment of women and the transgender community. Do you intend to enter politics?
Anyone who is concerned about social issues can enter politics. But, I am yet to get a deep insight into the field. I won’t venture into it, but whoever does, should eradicate caste politics, which is the root cause of many problems in society.
What’s your take on actors smoking on screen?
When I was young, my father always told me not to indulge in smoking as it would have a terrible effect on my health. He suffered a smoking-related death. But I ended up picking up the habit because of the influence of friends. I have been trying to quit for several years but in vain.
I agree that cigarette smoking is hazardous to health. But, I don’t think that audiences are influenced by seeing an actor smoking on screen. If you keep curtailing everything, there won’t be any villains in movies. If a character demands such a scene, it needs to be shown. Fans don’t get addicted to things that stars do in movies.
Tell us about your film with Rajini
(The moment you ask about his role in Rajinikanth’s upcoming flick with Karthik Subbraj, Vijay’s eyes are aglow.)
When it comes to filmmakers like Karthik Subbaraj, Manikandan, Seenu Ramasamy and Arun, I blindly accept projects without even hearing their scripts. That’s what happened with this film. I think of Rajini sir as a university, and I’m eager to learn from him. I am waiting for the moment that I get to stand in front of him and deliver my dialogues. I am ready and proud to be defeated by him (smiles).
