Vijay Sethupathi refuses ‘Mr Versatile’ tag, recalls being AR Rahman’s neighbour since Roja days
Vijay Sethupathi was in his ninth standard when AR Rahman gained popularity with his music in Roja – Here’s what happened next
Last Updated: 04.04 PM, Jan 15, 2026
A Tamil actor who gained popularity through his Telugu films and is now actively working in Hindi cinema too, Vijay Sethupathi is recognized as the talent who can pull off any character. Thus, it is no wonder that he got tagged as ‘Mr Versatile’ during his recent interaction with The Hollywood Reporter. The actor, nonetheless, instantly disowned the title. He was discussing how he would avoid exaggerated expression while shooting for the unique film Gandhi Talks, which is where he ended up revealing about his initial days as Rahman’s neighbour. Here’s what the conversation went like…
Vijay Sethupathi refuses Mr Versatile tag
When given the tag of Mr. Versatile, Sethupathi refused to take it. “I don’t have that intention to portray myself as versatile. No, nothing. I listen to the script. If I like it, I do it. Whether it will collect the money or not, that differs. I go to set and try to communicate the scene with whatever ideas I get – that’s it. I don’t carry anything else because that’s extra tags and I don’t want that.”
Vijay Sethupathi and AR Rahman’s long-built connection
AR Rahman reveals he and Vijay Sethupathi are neighbours. “I used to peek into Rahman sir’s house – whether he’s there or not. During Roja, I was in my ninth standard. We would be very happy to say our house is opposite Rahman sir’s house. He became famous, so we got that landmark.”
Vijay Sethupathi on loud mime
When asked how did they decide on the tonality of the performance, Vijay Sethupathi said he has to work too hard to convince himself to not overact. “I have to work too hard with each film, to convince myself about the needs of the character. It’s not easy for me,” he shared, adding that he works very hard to make it look easy. “I don’t have any plans. I go to set and try to understand the script and the essence of it. I try to put the mood of the film in every scene. I read the rhythm of the scene and then execute it once I can sense whether it is communicated properly. So, it differs for every scene,” the actor shared, citing the example of waking up with a different mood each day.
Gandhi Talks FAQs
Q. What is the next movie of Vijay Sethupathi Arvind Swamy?
A. Vijay Sethupathi and Arvind Swamy will star in Gandhi Talks which will release soon.
Q. What is Gandhi Talks release date?
A. Gandhi Talks will hit theatres on January 30.