Anurag Kashyap Says Vijay Sethupathi Helped Him Bag Maharaja Role To Fund Daughter's Wedding
Anurag Kashyap reveals how Vijay Sethupathi helped him land Maharaja when he needed funds for his daughter's wedding.
While he's long been hailed as one of Indian cinema's most fearless filmmakers, Anurag Kashyap is now riding a fresh wave of popularity—this time as an actor, particularly in the South Indian film industry. From playing a chilling antagonist in Imaikkaa Nodigal (2018) to his recent scene-stealing performance in the blockbuster Maharaja, Kashyap's acting chops are turning heads.
At a recent event hosted by The Hindu, Kashyap shared how his foray back into South Indian cinema was less of a strategic career move and more a result of an unexpected nudge—from none other than Vijay Sethupathi. 'After Imaikka Nodigal, I turned down a lot of South films. Offers kept coming every other day. Then, during post-production for Kennedy, I kept bumping into Vijay Sethupathi at my neighbour's place," said Kashyap, referencing his upcoming action thriller starring Rahul Bhat and Sunny Leone.
What started as casual chats turned into a full-circle moment. 'He told me there's this amazing script they've been trying to get to me. I initially said no. But he helped me find something in Kennedy, so I gave him a 'Thank You' card in the film," Kashyap shared with a smile.
Then came the kicker. 'I told him, 'I need to get my daughter married next year, and I don't think I can afford it.' And Vijay said, 'We'll help you.' And that's how Maharaja happened," he quipped. Kashyap's daughter, YouTuber Aaliyah Kashyap, recently tied the knot with Shane Gregoire.
Following the success of Maharaja, Kashyap hasn't looked back. He's since taken on meaty roles in Vetrimaaran's upcoming Viduthalai Part 2, Aashiq Abu's Malayalam action comedy Rifle Club, and Aditya Datt's Hindi web thriller Bad Cop. He's also gearing up for his next big role in the Hindi-Telugu film Dacoit: A Love Story alongside Adivi Sesh.
Surprisingly, acting wasn't something Kashyap initially felt confident about. Despite his background in theatre, he once believed he was 'the worst actor on screen." He admitted, 'I learned more about directing actors from my bad acting. It taught me what not to do."
He also revealed that his unexpected acting journey began at one of the lowest points in his directing career—after the critical and commercial failure of Bombay Velvet (2015). 'That film lost a lot of money. I owed the studio (Fox Star Studios) a large sum. Around that time, they were producing Akira with Murugadoss. They said, 'Act in this film and we'll write off your debt.' That was the easiest deal I've made. So technically, I became the highest-paid unpaid debut actor," he said with his signature dry humour.
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