EXCLUSIVE: Vignesh Shivan reveals how he convinced Vijay Sethupathi to do Naanum Rowdydhaan - hilarious story!

Blockbuster Tamil film director Vignesh Shivan recently sat down for a one-on-one conversation in Galatta Media's new candid interview series, 'Game Changers', being hosted by National Award-winning Tamil actress Suhasini Maniratnam. During the interview, the hit filmmaker opened up on how he pursued Vijay Sethupathi for two years to take up the lead role in his Naanum Rowdydhaan, which went on to become a massive box office and critical success. Revealing how Naanum Rowdydhaan went to several big Tamil cinema stars, Vignesh Shivan revealed that he first narrated the story of the film to Vijay Sethupathi. He said, "Back then he would ask me why am I telling him these stories. He knew me since the time of Podaa Podi's release since he was one among the few who liked the film a lot. So, when he called to wish me for the film, he introduced himself as the hero of Pizza. He said that he wasn't calling with an agenda to work with me on a film, but wanted to wish me for my film and felt like talking to me. After that call, I saved his name on my phone as 'Pizza hero Vijay Sethupathi'." 

Vignesh Shivan continued, "Later, at a college function, I saw him and requested for a meeting. Since it didn't go big as a film (Podaa Podi), there were like zero opportunities. I didn't know what to do. At that time, I made a script. The ideology behind the script of Naanum Rowdydhaan was I can't approach any big hero for a film. So, I decided to make a film, which is strong on female characterization. And, to cast the hero, whoever is ready to act, we'll go. I decided to focus on the other elements in the film like music and make it strong. Since the heroine characterization was nice in Podaa Podi, any sensible actress might accept, I felt. I then asked for an appointment to meet Vijay Sethupathi sir and narrated the story to him. At the time, there was a feeling that the hero didn't have much to do. After that, he referred me to a few other people and this process went on for two years." 

Explaining how his mother was in service in the police department at the time, Vignesh Shivan revealed that he made her apply for VRS after the release of Podaa Podi, but eventually had to step forward to manage expenses for the family by starting a design company called Paper Rocket with his assistant director Kabilan. During that time, he got to do poster designs for films, while also maintain constant contact with those in the film industry and also narrate the script of Naanum Rowdydhaan. In one of those discussions, Vignesh says he could not get past how the hero would be simply standing in the climax when both the villains stab each other. He said, "If I compromised on that one aspect, that film would have been made with some established heroes, but I wasn't ready to change that one aspect. When they didn't agree, I went back to Vijay Sethupathi once again and requested him to do the film. He has a 'mercy quota' in which he will sometimes agree to do their films. He'll do this since the director is struggling and because he has a heart of gold and I went and stood in front of him once again after two years. This time I told him to give me his dates and asked him to agree to do the film. I said to him that he might have done films that would become a hit, but would end up as a flop and vice versa, but requested him to come on board. He then asked me whether the film would be made if he gave his dates and I said yes. And, that's how he agreed to act."

Watch Vignesh Shivan in conversation with Suhasini Maniratnam in the interview below: