Vijay’s track record reveals that he is much more than your run-of-the-mill action hero. Surprisingly, the star can tickle your funny bone with the same fervour that he can beat up the bad guys.
The last time the actor was seen in a comic role was in Johnny Mera Naam and now he is back to amuse the audience with Jackson, a remake of the Tamil film Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara starring Vijay Sethupathi.
“The best way to get the family audience to come and watch my film is by giving them an all-round entertainer that is a mix of comedy and action. Unlike other genres, comedy attracts people of all ages to the theatre. I know I can play the funny man well and people have accepted me in my comic avatar in my previous outings. Of late, I have been picking films where I can effect a good balance between comedy and action so that I can reach the young and old alike,” says Vijay.
The original Tamil film that Jackson is based on features the comical side of daily life that keeps the audience entertained. At the same time, it also talks of how people find ways to drink and the bad effects of liquor are highlighted in the climax. However, in the Kannada remake, the message is presented in a lighter manner, says Vijay. “I really liked the original film’s subject and so I accepted it. But both the filmmakers and I felt that people can’t really digest really heavy matter on screen. They come to theatres to forget their worries and laugh out aloud. Catering to their tastes should be our motive and that is the idea behind Jackson which will be a full entertainment package,” he explains.
This film is even more special for Vijay because many of his good friends have come together to make it happen. “These were the same people who stood by me even before I became Duniya Vijay the actor. These people have seen me through my eight years in the industry and always remained my well wishers. Producer Sundar Gowdru has a passion for making good films and I personally want the entire team of Jackson to enter the industry because I know they have the capability of doing good work,” he says.
While Vijay defines and owns the characters he plays on screen, the actor in real life is a very jovial person. “I am well disciplined and very strict when it comes to my work. In fact, there is a song in the film, Avanu Michael Jackson, naanu cycle hodsonu (One hand there is Michael Jackson, while on the other, there is this Jackson who rides a cycle) written by
Yogaraj Bhat which describes me in a nutshell,” says Vijay adding, “I burst into laughter when I listen to the song and it has hilarious lyrics that will keep the audience in splits. In my opinion, the script is the hero. I am not the kind of a star who prefers words of praise in my dialogues or in the songs. I like writing that is different. While the audience whistles and claps when we fight or revolt against corruption, similarly, I think they will enjoy the thigh-slapping humour from the hero,” he says.
Recently, Vijay has been in the news for the wrong reasons. He says, “There are a few people in the industry who are hell bent on defaming my reputation and turning me into a scapegoat. As a celebrity, if I get down from the car and talk to people, it becomes a controversy. I am hurt by this constant scrutiny and rumours. Since, I have been at the receiving end of this kind of gossip, I feel that it is my responsibility to keep an eye on actors who have come up on their own and are vulnerable. I just seek equality and not dictatorship and I will continue to do so. I want to be what I am and will not change for others. If you check the history of my controversies, I usually fight on behalf of others and not for my sake,” he says.