Harish Kalyan on ‘Diesel’: A Physically and Mentally Demanding Journey with a Universal Message

Actor Harish Kalyan, who was last seen in Lubber Pandhu, is gearing up for his first Deepavali release with the upcoming action drama Diesel, directed by Shanmugham Muthusamy. Ahead of the film’s release, Harish opened up about its universal theme and the challenges he faced during production.

Speaking about the film’s concept, Harish said, “Petrol and diesel connect to everyone. More than gold, crude oil — the black gold — is the most valuable resource. We often visit petrol bunks but seldom think about the world behind crude oil.”

He added that Diesel has the potential to resonate globally: “This film offers a new experience for audiences worldwide. It’s meaningful, ambitious, and made on a grand scale. We took creative risks and filmed in extremely busy locations, which was both tough and exciting. I was amazed by director Shanmugham Muthusamy’s research and detailing — his script is truly remarkable.”

Reflecting on the shoot, Harish shared, “Diesel was both physically and mentally demanding. Every aspect — from dialogues and songs to intense action sequences — required effort and focus. But it was rewarding because of the film’s message and relevance. If audiences accept me in the action space, it could open doors for more roles in this genre.”

Excited about his festival release, Harish added, “Diwali has always been a time of big films. This year, I’m thrilled that my own movie will be part of the celebration.”

Produced by Devarajulu Markandeyan of Third Eye Entertainment and presented by SP Cinemas, Diesel features Athulyaa Ravi, Vinay Rai, Sai Kumar, Ananya, Karunaas, Bose Venkat, Ramesh Thilak, Kaali Venkat, Vivek Prasanna, Sachin Khedekar, Zakir Hussain, and others in key roles.