With ‘Jana Nayagan’ finally reaching theatres, ‘Bandar’ actor Bobby Deol has opened up about his experience of sharing screen space with Vijay. The film marks a significant milestone in Vijay’s career, as it is widely regarded as his final outing as an actor before fully focusing on his political responsibilities as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.In a recent interview Bobby opened up about Vijay’s personality. Despite the Tamil superstar’s massive popularity, Bobby said what impressed him the most was Vijay’s calm and grounded nature. According to the actor, his co-star preferred to keep a low profile and remained reserved throughout the shoot. Describing Vijay, Bobby in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter said, “a very simple man. very quiet, very much to himself,” adding that it was remarkable to see someone with such immense stardom remain so humble and composed.
Bobby Deol feels Vijay’s popularity influenced the filming process
Bobby also spoke about the practical challenges of filming with one of Tamil cinema’s biggest stars. He revealed that a considerable portion of ‘Jana Nayagan’ was shot on specially built sets instead of public locations because Vijay’s presence would attract enormous crowds. Explaining the situation, Bobby said, “It’s a fact. No work will happen if you take him on the street. He’s that big.” He also revealed that language occasionally became a challenge while filming since he was unfamiliar with Tamil. However, Bobby said director H. Vinoth ensured that communication remained smooth by explaining scenes and discussions whenever required. As a result, the filming process continued without major hurdles despite the language barrier.
Reflects on South Indian cinema’s fan culture
Having previously worked in Telugu cinema through ‘Daaku Maharaaj’, Bobby said he has witnessed firsthand the extraordinary devotion South Indian audiences have towards their favourite stars. According to him, the bond between actors and fans is unlike anything he has experienced elsewhere. Speaking about the regional film industries, he remarked, “there they worship the actors.” He further added, “It’s amazing how united they stand for the film industry.” Recalling his experience during the Celebrity Cricket League, Bobby remembered seeing stadiums packed with fans arriving in buses to cheer for their favourite actors, including Mohanlal. He believes that kind of collective support highlights the strong emotional connection audiences share with South Indian cinema.
Shares a memorable conversation with Vijay
Bobby also recalled one of his brief interactions with Vijay during the making of ‘Jana Nayagan’. Although the two actors did not spend a great deal of time together, one conversation stayed with him. He shared, “One day he told me he has done a remake of one of my films. I think it was Soldier (‘Villu’).”
Vijay attends private screening before release
Just hours before ‘Jana Nayagan’ opened in theatres, Vijay reportedly watched the film at a special screening held at the Tagore Film Centre in Adyar, Chennai. According to reports, members of the Tamil Nadu Secretariat, senior government officials and police personnel attended the private show alongside the Chief Minister. Directed by H. Vinoth, ‘Jana Nayagan’ also stars Pooja Hegde, Mamitha Baiju, Prakash Raj, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Narain, and Bobby Deol in important roles.
