Vijay Sethupathi Gears Up for Action: Joins Forces with Puri Jagannadh and Tabu for a Bold New Film

Adding to the buzz, the project will also see him sharing screen space with Tabu for the very first time, creating an onscreen pairing that's already raising anticipation levels among fans.

 “I don’t judge my directors by their past”

Speaking exclusively to ETimes, Sethupathi confirmed the collaboration. “Yes, Sir. It’s true. We start shooting in June,” he said, addressing questions about Jagannadh’s recent underwhelming releases. For the actor, it’s the script—not the director’s past—that holds weight.

“I don’t judge my directors by what they’ve done in the past. If I like a script, I do it. What Puri presented is a full-on action film, something I haven’t done before. I need to go into untried territory and not repeat myself.”

 First-Time Team-Up with Tabu

Another key highlight is his first collaboration with the legendary Tabu, one of Indian cinema’s most respected performers.

“Yes, Sir. She has an important role in the film,” he shared. “She is a fine artiste. It’s always a pleasure to work with a talented co-star—especially someone I haven’t worked with before.”

 Maharaja Was My Toughest Role

Reflecting on his recent success, Maharaja, Sethupathi admitted the film took an emotional toll on him.

“It was a film with a very strong statement on child abuse. Many times, I would be shivering while doing the scenes. As a father to a daughter in real life, the subject struck a deeply personal chord.”

While he's known for challenging roles in films like Super Deluxe, Maharaja pushed him further emotionally.

“In terms of emotional involvement, Maharaja was my toughest role to date.”

 Message Meets Mass Appeal

Known for choosing socially relevant stories, Sethupathi says he’s always striving to strike a balance between content and commercial appeal.

“Films with a strong message are my forte,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to work in out-and-out entertainers.”

 What’s Next?

Apart from this big-ticket actioner with Puri Jagannadh, Sethupathi has two Tamil projects lined up:

Train, directed by Mysskin, an action-packed thriller.

Ace, a murder mystery helmed by Aruguma Kumar.

“Of course, I’m excited about both—otherwise, I wouldn’t have done them.”

 Constant Reinvention

As Vijay Sethupathi dives into uncharted cinematic waters, his evolution continues. From emotionally intense dramas to slick action entertainers, he remains one of the most dynamic and unpredictable actors in Indian cinema today. With every new project, he proves that for him, the only constant is reinvention.