With Love actor Abishan Jeevinth: Never by shy in front of camera is the greatest lesson I have learnt as artiste | EXCLUSIVE

After Tourist Family’s success, Abishan Jeevinth makes his acting debut with With Love. Calling it full-fledged role, he speaks about self-doubt, Rajinikanth’s encouragement, belief in feel-good films

Abishan Jeevinth on With Love

It was only last May Abishan Jeevinth made his directorial debut with blockbuster Tamil film Tourist Family. A film that made audience smile, laugh, cry, and emote beyond the scope that cinema with bloodshed did. Now, this year, before Tourist Family completes one year, Abishan is set to debut as lead actor. “Everything is happening so quick, so not able to process. But it’s been good and no complaints,” Abishan, says as he nods to take the compliment that everything is as positive and hopeful as his film.

With Love: How the film came to Abishan Jeevinth?

Abishan, who had earlier played a supporting role in Tourist Family, however, considers With Love as his acting debut. “I was given a leeway in Tourist Family because I was mainly a director in that film. But here, I won’t be getting that comfort. With Love is my acting debut and it a full-fledged role,” Abishan says during a conversation with OTTplay.

With Love is directed by Abishan’s co-director Madhan and it goes way back before Tourist Family released. Madhan had approached him with a script to read. “I loved the story and even suggested some names he could approach. But he had told me that he might come back to me later. I did not take it seriously. After Tourist Family release, he circled back to me. I loved the story. All I had was doubt on myself. I was sceptical if I will be accepted. That is when I heard that Soundarya Rajinikanth mam and Magesh brother (producers of With Love), were already considering to launch me as actor. Everything was aligning but still I did not accept,” Abishan recalls.

It was then when Abishan had gone to meet Rajinikanth who wanted to congratulate him for the success of Tourist Family. “Even then I was not willing to do, because the news was leaked that I am going to act and the comments were negative. It further made me step back. But when Rajini sir called me a hero material, my morale boosted,” Abishan says.

Also read: With Love actor Anaswara Rajan: There is grief in letting go of every character after the last shot | EXCLUSIVE

Why positive films are needed?

Having made Tourist Family which carried a light-hearted tone despite talking about a migrant family’s troubles, starred in With Love, a romantic comedy drama, the director-actor says that more light-hearted, hope-filled and positive films should come. He adds, “All of us have different lifestyles and have stress. Something that motivates them, is very much needed. I say this because it has helped me a lot. When I was depressed, films like Kumblangi Nights, Miracle in Cell No. 7, Forrest Gump have motivated me and taken my spirits high. I think movies can influence a person a lot and it is important what you show in films.”

How With Love would influence? Abishan answers, “With Love will make you recall beautiful memories, and will make you feel how beautiful it is to being loved. When you come out theatres, you will come with a smile, I believe.”

When asked what was hard, act or make people act, Abishan says that neither was hard for him. “I was able to balance, but direction keeps you on a high always. You are in a position to decide on other departments. But in acting, it is only about your shot and rest of the time, you wait for your turn to come. But the output gave me that high. I think acting gives you that satisfaction when you see the end result, whereas direction is during the process and instant.”

Even while being a director, Abishan has always contributed his ideas to Madan, but it always latter’s call to take it or not. “It is a given and take always. After Tourist Family, I had some mistakes which I realised which I look forward to correct in my next film. They are technical aspects, like staging. But With Love, I have never found any such observations,” he adds.

Also read: With Love movie 2026: Release date, plot, cast and crew, trailer, OTT platform; All about Abishan Jeevinth-Anaswara Rajan film

While he directed himself in Tourist Family, that was not the case with With Love. Elaborating on this, Abishan recalls how Madhan often okayed the takes that he was not convinced with. “There are times when it is vice versa, but it is always the director’s call. I have learned that I should never be shy on camera. This was something I learnt from Simran mam. When she was new to cinema, and had used prompters, she recalled how her pronunciations were not always right. Some would laugh while mispronounced words in Tamil but I never shied away. I am still camera shy but I hope to break it.”

On working with Anaswara, Abishan appreciates how she performs well on camera and has a natural acting. He hopes to continue to balance both acting and direction in the future. With his next being an emotional action comedy, Abishan is working on the screenplay. “It will be a theatrical film and will have all the emotions and beyond that Tourist Family had,” Abishan says.

Hoping to never change personally and be boggled by pressure, the director and actor looks forward to upcoming projects this year, as he signs off by saying With Love will be just as wholesome.

Abishan Jeevinth FAQs

Q. What is Abishan Jeevinth known for?

A. Abishan Jeevinth is known for directing Tourist Family and now starring in With Love.

Q. Is Abishan Jeevinth from Sri Lanka?

A. No, Abishan is not from Sri Lanka. He is a native of Trichy, Tamil Nadu.

Share