Latest news with #ImaikkaaNodigal
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Anurag Kashyap credits his 'Maharaja' co-star Vijay Sethupathi for his acting comeback in the South
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. Operation Sindoor Amid flare-up hours after thaw, officials say things will settle down with time Ceasefire on, but pressure stays: Key decisions by India against Pak that still stand 'Will work with India & Pakistan to seek solution on Kashmir': Trump 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. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . And don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
News18
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Anurag Kashyap Says Vijay Sethupathi Helped Him Bag Maharaja Role To Fund Daughter's Wedding
Last Updated: 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. First Published:
