Anurag Kashyap credits his 'Maharaja' co-star Vijay Sethupathi for his acting comeback in the South

Time of India

11-05-2025

Acclaimed director
Anurag Kashyap
, known for his bold and gritty storytelling, is now carving a unique space for himself as an actor, especially in South Indian cinema. Though his directorial work is legendary, Anurag Kashyap's acting career gained momentum after his impactful role in the 2018 Tamil thriller '
Imaikkaa Nodigal
.' More recently, he won applause for his menacing turn in 'Maharaja,' directed by Nithilan Saminathan.
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The transformation from filmmaker to sought-after villain in the South was unexpected but is now being embraced by Kashyap himself.
Vijay Sethupathi
played a key role in reviving Anurag Kashyap's acting run in the South
It was none other than Vijay Sethupathi who nudged Kashyap back into the South Indian film scene. Speaking at a recent event, Anurag Kashyap recalled how he kept turning down South Indian projects post 'Imaikkaa Nodigal,' until Sethupathi intervened. While they crossed paths during the post-production of Anurag Kashyap's unreleased film 'Kennedy', Vijay Sethupathi encouraged him to take on 'Maharaja'. 'At first I said no, but I was planning my daughter's wedding, and Vijay said, 'We'll help you.' I couldn't refuse after that,' Anurag Kashyap shared with laughter.
With momentum on his side, Anurag Kashyap is now relishing his second innings as an actor
Following the success of 'Maharaja', Kashyap continued acting in major projects like Vetrimaaran's '
Viduthalai Part 2
' and Malayalam film 'Rifle Club'. He also took on a villainous role in the Hindi series 'Bad Cop' and will soon be seen in the bilingual action romance '
Dacoit: A Love Story
' opposite Adivi Sesh. Anurag Kashyap now openly admits he enjoys acting, especially as filmmaking faces what he calls 'a creative crisis' due to a lack of risk-taking.
What started as a compromise after a flop turned into a fulfilling acting path for Anurag Kashyap
Anurag Kashyap's shift into acting was born out of necessity after his 2015 directorial '
Bombay Velvet
'' failed at the box office. The financial fallout led him to accept a role in
AR Murugadoss
' 'Akira' as a barter to clear his debt with Fox Star Studios. 'They said they'd write off the money I owed if I acted. That's how I became the highest-paid unpaid debut actor,' Anurag Kashyap quipped. Ironically, what began as a financial solution has now become a fulfilling creative journey for the filmmaker-turned-actor.
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