Cinema

Selvaraghavan shares tales of accidental acting, family and films in the making

Director-actor Selvaraghavan gets candid with DT Next about his upcoming lead venture, Manithan Deivamagalam, helmed by Dennis Manjunath. He discusses the emotional part, his transition to acting, and balancing hectic family schedules with his own directorial projects
Selvaraghavan director, actor
Selvaraghavan director, actor
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It’s a weekend and Selvaraghavan’s son Rishi can’t wait for his father to take him shopping. But Selvaraghavan assures he would take him immediately after the interview. He talks to us while Rishi sits on his dad’s lap and cross questions him.

Meanwhile, the trailer of Selvaraghavan’s Manithan Deivamagalam, releasing on April 10, has been garnering attention for his acting prowess yet again, after Saani Kaayidham and Aryan among others, he plays it down. “It is the script that brings out the best in everyone.

Even when I decide on signing a film as an actor, I see what the script holds. Also, a well-written scene always tells you how to emote. I am an accidental actor. It was Arun Matheswaran, who insisted that I act in Saani Kaayidham. So, when Dennis narrated it to me, I firmly believed that this would perform well,” he says.

Selvaraghavan plays a middle-aged man, who is in search of a girl to get married. To go about the character, the filmamaker actor says that he would suggest a few variations to Dennis.

Still from the film
Still from the film
As I told you earlier, I am not a planned actor. I would throw a few suggestions to Dennis and it will be his call on what suits the scene. In fact, I used to observe what Dhanush does on sets while he acts. He would be quietly reading a book. So, I enact a few variations along with Dennis’s inputs, we take whatever that would work for the film. Having said that, acting to me is more challenging than directing a film. The latter is something I always wanted to do passionately since childhood. Acting isn’t like that. You can add so many layers to a character in terms of its behavioural patterns while ensuring that we do not go overboard from what the character arc is. Romba kashtam (Quite difficult),
He laughs

The Kasthuri Raja family has been quite busy with Selvaraghavan simultaneously directing 7/G Rainbow Colony 2 while also playing a cop in Love Oh Love, which stars his nephew Pavish in lead role. Kasthuri Raja himself plays a pivotal role in a film titled Habeebi while Selva’s brother Dhanush has Kara, and Rajkumar Periyasamy film among others. “You omitted two of my sisters from the list apparently.

Being doctors, they are the busiest in the family. It is not us. But, when we had a similar discussion in the family, Dhanush ended the conversation in just one word by saying vera enna theriyum namakku? (what else do we know?). It was true and thought provoking,” he adds. The director goes on to give us an interesting tidbit. “Dhanush wanted to become a chef. I wanted to leave for the US to pursue higher studies. But here we are, as actors and directors,” says Selvaraghavan.

Dhanush wanted to become a chef. I wanted to leave for the US to pursue higher studies. But here we are, as actors and directors – Selvaraghavan director, actor

He also gives us updates on his upcoming directorials and acting ventures. “7/G Rainbow Colony 2 with Ravi Krishna is on the verge of completion. Apart from that I would be directing Pudhupettai 2. On the acting front, I will be making my Kannada debut. That is another excellent script and we will talk about it soon,” he remarks and immediately leaves with Rishi, who is set to go on a shopping spree.

Selvaraghavan
Manithan Deivamagalam
Aryan
actor
Saani Kaayidham

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