Latest news with #SillunuOruKaadhal
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
MEET Vidhu: All you need to know about the new-age 'Retro' villain
Small-town dreams to big-screen reality The Madhavan comparisons and a fanboy's dream come true A villain with a vision Actor Vidhu, who captivated audiences as the chilling villain Michael Miraz in Karthik Subbaraj's 'Retro', is quickly becoming a name to remember in Tamil cinema. The film, which released on May 1st and stars Suriya, Pooja Hegde, Joju George, and others, has already made a strong box office impact, collecting Rs 17.75 crore in Tamil Nadu on day one alone. Vidhu's intense portrayal of Michael Miraz marked by an eerie smile and chilling presence was one of the standout elements of the film. While he had previously played the menacing 'Shattani' in ' Jigarthanda DoubleX ', 'Retro' has brought his face into the spotlight and made audiences sit up and take from Coimbatore, Vidhu has had a passion for cinema since childhood. Despite pursuing an engineering job initially, his heart remained with films. He began his cinematic journey as a junior artist in Petta and later formally trained in acting. Though he wasn't originally auditioned for the villain role in 'Retro', a clean-shaven photo he shared with Karthik Subbaraj landed him the part. Vidhu dedicated 15 days to prepare for Michael Miraz and even sent audition clips he recorded himself to secure the role. His reference for the character was cult leader Charles Manson—he wanted Michael to feel dangerous without making the performance feel Vidhu has been compared to actor Madhavan by many fans, though he humbly sees the recognition for Michael Miraz as the true compliment. He doesn't mind the extreme audience reactions, including hate, as long as people remember him. Behind the scenes, he shares a warm rapport with Suriya, whom he admired since his school days. From watching 'Sillunu Oru Kaadhal' being filmed in Coimbatore to sharing dinner at Suriya's home, Vidhu's journey has come full 'Retro', Vidhu has taken a bold step forward in fulfilling his dream of portraying memorable, Heath Ledger-level characters. He believes he still has a long way to go, but this breakout performance is proof he's on the right path.
Hindustan Times
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Suriya says people call him ‘overacting actor': I can't be Karthi, can't be Meiyazhagan
Retro, directed by Karthik Subbaraj and starring Suriya, was released in theatres on May 1. As part of the film's promotions, the director and actor shot a 'rectangle table discussion' with music composer Santosh Narayanan. While talking about his work, Suriya candidly said to Karthik that he doesn't think he's a 'great actor' and that he can't deliver performances like his brother, Karthi. (Also Read: 'I stopped looking at reviews as they're no longer authentic': Retro director Karthik Subbaraj) During the discussion, Karthik and Santosh discussed how Suriya's career changed when he starred almost back-to-back in films like Kaakha Kaakha, Ghajini, and Sillunu Oru Kaadhal. The actor admitted that he got lucky, with directors trusting him to carry these projects. When Karthik brought up that Suriya tends not to take any scene for granted, no matter how small, he got candid and credited director Bala. Stating that he only aims to give his 'genuine best' even though he's not a 'great actor', Suriya said, 'I am not a great actor, Karthik. Some people will call me an overacting actor…so many people will have that opinion. But, I stick to what I learnt from Bala sir. I'm trying my best, not every time it happens. I try my genuine best. Now, take a film like Meiyazhagan. I can't be Karthi, I can't be Meiyazhagan.' For the unversed, Suriya worked with director Bala in the 2001 film Nandhaa. Suriya and his wife, Jyotika, produced the 2024 film Meiyazhagan, starring Karthi and Arvind Swami. The film received critical praise, particularly for its performances. In 2024, Suriya starred in Siva's Kanguva, which did not receive favourable reviews and underperformed at the box office. So, expectations were high on Karthik's Retro, but the film received mixed reviews and collected ₹60 crore worldwide in three days, according to Sacnilk. Suriya will soon be seen in yet-to-be-titled films helmed by RJ Balaji and Venky Atluri.
