Sirai actor LK Akshay Kumar: It was the first film where I have been on sets properly

Ahead of Sirai’s OTT debut on January 23, debutant Akshay Kumar opens up about playing Abdul, preparing without a bound script, and why the intense police procedural was a challenging first role

Sirai actor LK Akshay Kumar

The 2025 Tamil film Sirai, which was one of the best releases in 2025, is now gearing up for OTT release. While Vikram Prabhu led the crime drama that explored the police procedural of escorting accused to the court, debutant LK Akshay Kumar played a prominent role in the film along with Anishma Anilkumar. While the former played a young man Abdul, who is accused of murder, the latter plays his love interest Kalaiyarasi.

‘I knew it was not going to be an easy task’

Speaking to OTTplay ahead of Sirai digital debut, LK Akshay Kumar talks about moment when he wanted to act, “When I was 16, I figured I wanted to give a shot in acting. I had visited the sets of Master (produced by his father Lalit Kumar) and Lokesh Kanagaraj asked me to do a two-minute role. I had no intention of becoming an actor but after I did, I felt some hope and scope for acting. I had promised to myself that if I got an opportunity, I would take it up.”

Years later, as he was looking for some stories, he came across Sirai. “My dad said that if they feel I can pull it off, I can go ahead. I knew it was not going to be an easy task. But having heard the script, I want to try it,” he adds.

Also read: Sirai movie review: Vikram Prabhu, debutant Akshay Kumar anchor a brilliantly written police procedural drama

‘There was no bound script’

Akshay Kumar had listened to the narration of true story and not the cinematic version. “When I heard the story, it was more like an account of what happened. I did not see Abdul character as someone I am playing, but as a real-life story. It clicked to me when they said that a girl is waiting for his lover who has been in prison and she comes for every hearing,” the Sirai actor said. He further said that he never had a bound script on hand but had to follow the instructions of director Suresh Rajakumar and acting trainer.

He says that playing Abdul is stark contrast to his real life, be it living in a village or exposed to rural culture. Akshay Kumar along with Anishma Anilkumar had gone to Sivagangai and stayed for sometime to get accustomed to the village lifestyle. “We did everything what residents in a village. Anishma and I had to find Kalaiyarasi and Abdul through this method. After getting a basic understanding, we found who are characters are.”

Also read:Sirai OTT release date: When and where to stream Vikram Prabhu’s critically acclaimed cop drama

Even as Akshay Kumar comes from a family that runs a production house, he talks about how his upbringing was detached from cinema making. “My father was very particular that we don’t go to sets. I have never been behind the camera or seen actors perform. Sirai was the first film where I have been on proper sets. Before this, I had been on Master sets only because I performed for 2 days,” Akshay Kumar states. The young actor takes inspiration from Dhanush and says that he would like to do a variety of roles, both commercial and content driven.

Hoping to do different roles in the future, Akshay Kumar says his next will be a comedy, commercial entertainer, something very different from Sirai. It will be helmed by a debutant.

Sirai FAQs

Q. What is Sirai movie OTT release date?

A. Sirai will release on ZEE5 via OTTplay Premium on January 23.

Q. Who are there in Sirai movie cast?

A. Vikram Prabhu, LK Akshay Kumar, Anishma Anilkumar, Ananda Thambirajah, are part of Sirai cast.

Q. What is Sirai OTT partner?

A. Sirai will stream on ZEE5 via OTTplay Premium.

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