Vaathi star Dhanush regrets neglecting studies: 'As a parent, now I understand the struggles of my parents'

Actor Dhanush is quite upbeat about his upcoming film Vaathi. It's a bilingual film, which was shot in Tamil and Telugu simultaneously. The Telugu version has been titled Sir. "The film is set in the 1990s. Do you know what's funny about this? In the 90s I was a student and now for the 90s student, I am playing a professor. The time flew so fast. In July, I turn 40. It's a bit upsetting," said Dhanush at the audio release event of the film. 

Dhanush said that he was half-hearted when director Venky Atluri offered him the movie. "Venky approached me for Vaathi during the lockdown time. Without any work, I was in depression and was in no mood to listen to the script. But, I thought let's listen and then say no. But, by the time he finished the narration, the first question I asked him was 'when do you want my dates?' Because beyond the story, I liked the message in the film," he noted. 

Dhanush, however, promised that Vaathi has more than a strong social message to offer. "You would have heard a dialogue in the teaser. Give education like a prasadam at the temple. And not sell it like a 5-star hotel dish. That's the story of the film. But, it won't be preachy. It will be a fun, family entertainer," he said. 

Dhanush also revealed that working in Vaathi took him down memory lane. "As I provide education to my children, I now understand the struggles of my parents," he added.  

In his speech, he recalled the romantic escapades and other rebellious acts he performed when he was a student. He advised his fans never to take school and education for granted as he did. 

"I joined private tuition when I was in school. It was not that I wanted to study but to spend more time with my girlfriend. That tuition teacher kept asking me questions and I couldn't give any answers. I felt ashamed and I discontinued the tuition. And then I started waiting outside the tuition for my girlfriend. And to inform her that I'm outside, I used to make sounds using my motorbike. After learning that it was me who was making that noise from the outside, that tuition teacher said to those students, 'you guys will somehow manage to study, pass exams and become somebody. But, the guy outside making noises will definitely dance in the middle of the streets. As he said, there is no street in Tamil Nadu where I haven't danced," he quipped. 

"But, looking back, I still regret why I didn't attend that classes. As I said before (in Asuran), if we have land, they will grab it. If we have money, they will take it. But, they can't take away our education," he added. 

Vaath also stars Samyuktha, P. Sai Kumar, Tanikella Bharani and Samuthirakani. And it's due in cinemas on February 17.