With ‘Jana Nayagan’ finally hitting the theatres, the ‘Bandar’ actor Bobby Deol opened up about her experience of sharing screen space with Vijay. The film marked an important milestone in Vijay’s career, as it was widely considered to be his last outing as an actor before fully focusing on his political responsibilities as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.In a recent interview, Bobby revealed Vijay’s personality. Despite the huge popularity of the Tamil superstar, Bobby said that what impressed him the most was Vijay’s calm and strong character. According to the actor, his co-star prefers to keep a low profile and remained reserved throughout the shooting. Describing Vijay, Bobby in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter said, “a simple person. very quiet, very much to himself,” adding that it was rare to see someone with such huge stardom remain humble and composed.
Bobby Deol felt that Vijay’s popularity influenced the filmmaking process
Bobby also spoke about the practical challenges of filming one of Tamil cinema’s biggest stars. He revealed that many parts of ‘Jana Nayagan’ were shot on specially built sets instead of public places as Vijay’s presence would attract a large crowd. Explaining the situation, Bobby said, “It’s a fact. No work is going to happen if you take him on the road. He’s big.” He also revealed that language sometimes became a challenge while filming as he was not familiar with Tamil. However, Bobby said that director H. Vinoth made sure that the communication remained smooth by explaining the scenes and discussions when necessary. As a result, the filming process continued without major obstacles despite the language barrier.
Reflecting on fan culture in South Indian cinema
Having previously worked in Telugu cinema through ‘Daaku Maharaaj’, Bobby says he has witnessed firsthand the incredible devotion of South Indian audiences to their favorite stars. According to him, the relationship between actors and fans is unlike anything he has experienced elsewhere. Talking about the film industries in the region, he said, “there they worship actors.” He added, “It’s amazing how united they are for the film industry.Recalling his experience during the Celebrity Cricket League, Bobby recalls seeing stadiums full of fans arriving in busloads to cheer their favorite actors, including Mohanlal. He believes that kind of collective support underpins the strong emotional connection that South Indian cinema audiences share.
Shared 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 much time together, a conversation remained with him. He shared, “One day he told me that he had done a remake of one of my films. I think it was Soldier (‘Villu’).”
Vijay attended a private screening before the release
Just hours before ‘Jana Nayagan’ opened in theatres, Vijay reportedly watched the film at a special screening held at the Tagore Film Center in Adyar, Chennai. According to reports, members of the Tamil Nadu Secretariat, government officials and police personnel attended the private show along with 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 pivotal roles.