Vettaiyan star Rajinikanth jokes about his acting skills: 'I’m like a dhobi mistaken for a sage...'

At the audio release event of his upcoming film Vettaiyan, Superstar Rajinikanth humbly undersold his acting prowess, humorously suggesting that he had no talent for good acting bad actor. During his 40-minute speech, the legendary actor shared anecdotes about his career, and his initial reluctance to work with Vettaiyan director TJ Gnanavel.

Rajinikanth, known for his larger-than-life image, credited his success to his collaborations with great directors. "If people believe I’m a good actor, it’s because of directors like Mahendran, SP Muthuraman, and Mani Ratnam. They crafted those performances, not me. You’ve only seen the okay takes, but you don’t know what went on behind the scenes," he said with self-deprecating humour.

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The Jailer star recalled being impressed by Gnanavel’s previous film, Jai Bhim, but expressed concerns about whether the director could cater to his mass appeal. "I was worried that Gnanavel wouldn’t be able to make a film that would suit my image. I asked him if he could create something that could be celebrated by audiences of all age groups, and he took it as a challenge," Rajinikanth revealed.

Gnanavel, a fan of Rajinikanth’s earlier films like Mullum alarum and Thalapathi, wanted to explore the actor’s dramatic side. However, Rajinikanth was cautious. To explain his reluctance, Rajinikanth shared a story about a dhobi (laundry worker) he encountered in the Himalayas.

The dhobi, after losing his donkey, sat silently under a tree. A passerby took pity on him, wrapping a saffron shawl around his shoulders. The dhobi, mistaken for a sage due to his attire and demeanour, gained a large following. But one day, when the donkey's bray triggered his memory, he confessed the truth to his followers. To his surprise, they asked him to continue his "act" as a sage. "I told Gnanavel, I am that dhobi. I didn’t do anything special. My directors made me who I am. If I try to act now, the truth will be exposed, just like the dhobi when he spoke," Rajinikanth quipped.

Despite his self-deprecating remarks, Rajinikanth acknowledged the challenge Gnanavel presented. "I switched tracks with films like Bhairavi, Pokkiri Raja, and Murattu Kaalai, and things worked out. Gnanavel has made me act, and I’ve tried my best," he said. 

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