Mohanlal’s Autograph Framed in Vijay Sethupathi’s Office

His admiration for Mohanlal came through instantly—raw, honest and almost childlike in its sincerity. “I am the biggest fan of Mohanlal sir. I like him a lot,” he said, smiling. Then came the line that drew cheers from the room. “I have his autograph framed in my office.” For him, even the smallest gesture towards his idol mattered. “Whether I gave him a shawl or bouquet, I got a chance to express my love for someone I looked up to and I am thrilled,” he said.

He turned to Tollywood King Akkineni Nagarjuna next, overflowing with respect. “Nagarjuna is such a gentleman.” Sethupathi said. He joked about the star’s ageless charm. “They do a lot of research on anti-aging. Please do a research with him. Definitely, from his hair, he is very handsome. And always he has a cool, energetic vibe.”

For Sethupathi, the admiration runs deep because he grew up with Nagarjuna’s onscreen presence. “Since I was a kid, I grew up watching his movies. He is still the same person. So, you look the same, sir. Maybe, even if my grandchildren came, you would still look like this,” he said.

When he shifted to talking about the reality show Bigg Boss, his voice became more reflective. He spoke about the show not just as a host but as someone transformed by it. “Many people here have been given this opportunity. It has made people’s minds interact. They know who humans are. The contestants, the host, the audience, everyone is a part of the show.”

What sets the show apart, he said, is its honesty. “Because there is no drama there.” And he believes change is natural. “As a person, we can’t have the same personality. It will keep changing. We have to look at ourselves.” That self-reflection is exactly why he calls Bigg Boss ‘a mirror.’

“I look at myself in all the contestants,” he said. Like Nagarjuna had stated earlier, Sethupathi admitted that he initially didn’t want to be part of the show. “I said I wouldn’t do Bigg Boss. I said I didn’t know. I never saw Bigg Boss. I had a different opinion about it.”

But everything changed once he stepped in. “First, I did Season 8. Now, I am doing Season 9.” And then came his most poetic line: “After I went there, it is like reading a great book.” He described learning from the people, their tasks, and their behaviour. “I learned a lot from the people there and their tasks and behaviours.”

On criticism, he echoed Mohanlal’s sentiment. “There can be a lot of criticism. Criticism should always come. Critics are most welcome. Because it gives a perspective.” In fact, he believes perspective is the essence of the show. “Mostly, Bigg Boss discusses perspectives. I think we know how many perspectives there are.”

He genuinely enjoys the questions the show raises. “More than answers, I like questions. Bigg Boss raises so many questions towards me. I learned a lot of things from Bigg Boss. I am very happy that I am doing it.”

Turning to the platform JioHotstar, he expressed gratitude for their investment in storytelling. “Thank you to Jio Hotstar. My series has been released. You are investing a lot of money. A lot of people are working. A lot of people are dreaming.” There is one belief he strongly held on to: “There are a lot of stories that need to be told.” And for him, that is the power of art. “Art brings people closer. It educates them. It takes them forward. It is a big step. So thank you for coming and investing.”