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The Hindu
10 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Suriya turns 50: A look at the film that brought out the performer in the actor
Tamil star Suriya is celebrating his 50th birthday on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. Over the years, Suriya has enthralled Tamil audiences with countless performances, from films like Pithamagan and Ghajini to 24 and Soorarai Pottru. However, true 'Anbaana' fans of Suriya would know that he wasn't always a confident performer. In his initial days, Suriya struggled as an actor. He has often stated that he was a reluctant actor who had to strive hard to stay afloat when his father, veteran actor Sivakumar, gave him his first break with 1997's Nerukku Ner, directed by Vasanth. Suriya then had to learn to stand on his own feet. In a 2004 chat with actor Jyotika — then his co-star, presently his wife — for The Hindu, Suriya called 2001's Nandhaa as the film that transitioned him into a self-assured performer. 'The film made me realise you can be on the right track, only if you keep yourself away from the beaten track. In offbeat roles, there is tremendous scope for acting. Director Bala has also played a great role in my transformation. As friend and guide, he has effected salutary changes in my 'real' life as well.' In Pictures: Celebrating actor Suriya on his 50th birthday 1 / 25 The actor opened up even more about Nandhaa recently, in an interview with music composer Santhosh Narayanan and director Karthik Subbaraj after the release of their film Retro. Everything happened with Nandhaa, said the star. 'Because I was a boy working in the garment industry, with no idea about acting. I was brought into the film industry, and I acted in Nerukku Ner. Vasanth sir gave me all the support, but once I came out of the film, I didn't know how to stand on my own feet as an actor. I didn't know how to perceive the scene paper, stand, act, walk, blink, or punctuate the dialogues. And then Friends was one film where I really liked the atmosphere. I enjoyed working with Siddique sir. I tried to be as true as possible, but nobody taught me the philosophy of acting or showed me the ropes of it.' CLICK HERE TO READ SURIYA'S INTERVIEW TO THE HINDU IN 2002 But director Bala was different. 'He would dive into your mind. There wouldn't be any burden on you. He would explain the scene and the emotions in text. Sometimes he would break down while explaining the scenes, and I would wish to be as transparent as him. I used to think, 'Oh, he's doing so much for my sake; he's even acting and showing me how to do it. He is living the moment, but shouldn't I be doing it? How am I going to pull it off in front of the camera?' So many things were going through my head,' said Suriya. 'I started enjoying the craft since Nandhaa. Only Nandhaa gave me the foundation to be Anbuselvan or be Ghajini. Pithamagan made me do Ayan,' he added. Nandhaa, which also featured Laila, Rajkiran, Rajashree, Saravanan and Karunas, told the story of a young man who struggles to fit into society after serving a term for the murder of his father. Heartfelt and tragic, Nandhaa, Bala's sophomore, catapulted the filmmaker to fame. The film famously brought out a new shade to an actor who hadn't done such gritty, realistic roles until then. Tamil cinema fans often look back at Nandhaa for the comedy sequences featuring Suriya, Karunas and Laila, and for Yuvan Shankar Raja's evergreen soundtrack. Bala and Suriya later reunited for Pithamagan, which Suriya said was even more difficult than Nandhaa since it was a character far unlike his real self.
The Hindu
10 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Suriya turns 50: Do you know the actor's first salary?
Suriya might today be one of the most popular Tamil actors around, earning crores of rupees. But did you know that his first salary was a mere ₹736? That money was earned due to his work in a garment factory, where he toiled long before he plunged into acting. The hours were long; it involved him working more than 18 hours a day. ALSO READ: Suriya interview: 'I remember my first salary was...' He recalled this phase of his life in an interview with The Hindu before the release of 2020's Soorarai Pottru. 'We all go through this phase once we turn 18, when we start thinking about our future. I did not want to follow my father's [actor Sivakumar] footsteps in the film industry. I got a job in a garment factory, with my first month's salary being ₹736, which I got after 18 hours of work every day. I still remember the weight of the white envelope that had that money,' he nostalgically stated. Today, Suriya is well known among admirers for his hard work and sincerity, two qualities that have appealed to many of his fans. Even as he awaits the release of upcoming film Karuppu, directed by Balaji, Suriya's penchant to learn and master things that he did not know has made him one of the biggest stars of Tamil cinema. In Pictures: Celebrating actor Suriya on his 50th birthday 1 / 3 This is evident not just now, but also way back in 2003, when, in a conversation with his father, actor Sivakumar, to The Hindu, he remarked, 'Before coming into the field, I did not realise how hard you would have toiled to make it big. Only now do I know what it is like to act in public places. I am also learning how to react to public comments and how to overcome difficulties.'
News18
34 minutes ago
- News18
Shahid Kapoor's Next To Clash With Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar And Prabhas's The Raja Saab?
The report mentions that the makers of Shahid Kapoor's next has no intention of altering the film's release, setting the stage for a massive three-way showdown. A high-voltage box office clash is likely to happen at the box office in December this year. The makers of Shahid Kapoor's next have reportedly decided to stick to the original release date of the upcoming film, despite major competition from Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar and Prabhas' much-anticipated The Raja Saab. There is no intention of altering the film's release, setting the stage for a massive three-way showdown. Times Now has quoted the Bollywood Hungama report, which mentions that there is no change in the release date of Shahid Kapoor's next. The portal reported a source close to the development as saying, 'It was the makers of Shahid Kapoor's next that took the December 5 slot first. The filming is going on at a steady pace and the film has shaped up well. Producer Sajid Nadiadwala is confident of the product and doesn't feel the need to move from the date that he was the first one to reserve." But still an official confirmation is awaited. On Ranveer Singh's birthday, the makers dropped first look of Dhurandhar. The actor, in long hair and a smoke in his mouth, kills and beats in style, like it's no task. With upbeat music in the backdrop, the film offers a glimpse into the violence and gore in store. Apart from Ranveer, makers have also dropped first looks of the film's other leading cast, comprising Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Akshaye Khanna. Arjun Rampal, who is one of the key characters in the film, looked intriguing in a never-seen-before rugged avatar, sporting a golden tooth, vintage metallic shades, dense grey beard and classic raw expressions. The film's leading leady, Tamil actor Sara Arjun, was also introduced. The release of Dhurandhar was also unveiled – December 5, 2025. Coming to Prabhas's horror comedy, The Raja Saab, the film teaser was also released recently. The teaser begins by introducing fans to a haunted mansion, soaked with dark secrets from the past. As sinister energy and spirits lurk in the night, Prabhas takes it as a mission to wipe out the evil. The teaser consists of all the crucial elements of a Prabhas film – there's a massy entry, dance, dialogues, and the actor perfectly balancing action with comedy. One of the show-stealers from the Hindi version of the teaser has to be Prabhas asking Nidhhi whether she's ever fallen in 'Shah Rukh Khan wala pyaar". The Raja Saab is produced by People Media Factory and Viswa Prasad. The film is set to release on December 5, 2025, in five languages – Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam. Directed by Maruthi, the film's music is composed by Thaman S. First Published: July 23, 2025, 07:23 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
