Vettaiyan director on Rajinikanth: 'More than a superstar, he’s a super actor'

Filmmaker TJ Gnanavel, just three movies into his directorial career, has had the incredible opportunity to direct Superstar Rajinikanth in the upcoming film Vettaiyan. Gnanavel shared his admiration for Rajinikanth’s professionalism, dedication, and humility, both on and off the screen, despite his legendary status.

Gnanavel recalled being impressed by how Rajinikanth never used his immense stardom to overrule directorial decisions. Instead, the actor remained open to delivering the performances that the director envisioned. "I think more than on screen, he's a bigger superstar off the screen. He inspired me with his dedication to his work and the preparation that goes into it," Gnanavel said during a live conversation hosted by Black Sheep.

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Talking about Rajinikanth’s work ethic, Gnanavel noted how the 73-year-old actor’s commitment to his craft surpasses that of many younger stars. "Even at this age, if I want to shoot at 2 in the night, he will be on the set. I don’t think even up-and-coming stars would be okay with that. We hear about heroes throwing tantrums and coming late to sets, but I never experienced that with Rajinikanth while making Vettaiyan," he shared.

Gnanavel also mentioned how Rajinikanth's punctuality set the tone for the entire production. "If Rajinikanth is the first to arrive on set, nobody else can come late. The reason behind his longevity in his career, I think, is because he never compromises on his work. He works hard to meet the expectations of his fans," he added.

Rajinikanth's humility was another standout trait for Gnanavel. "I am very junior to him, but he showed me the same respect he would have shown his mentor, K. Balachander. Even though I’m nowhere near his experience or stardom, he always stands to greet me, reminding me of the huge responsibility that comes with the director's chair," Gnanavel noted.

Gnanavel also shared that while Rajinikanth occasionally had different opinions about certain scenes, he always supported the director’s vision.

Rajinikanth, the super actor

As a fan, Gnanavel expressed his love for Rajinikanth’s performances in films like Mullum Malarum, directed by J. Mahendran. "I must have seen Mullum Malarum at least 50 times. He’s not just a superstar, but a super actor. I have explored that actor in him in Vettaiyan. He’s a trained actor, but he doesn’t claim to be one. He often says he relies on stock reactions," Gnanavel remarked.

"I want Rajini sir to do more films like Mullum Malarum. He has so much depth as an actor that the world deserves to see more of," he added.

Vettaiyan is now in post-production and is hearing up to hit the screens on October 10.

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