"Will Never Forget": STR Thanks Mani Ratnam For Supporting Him Amid Industry Scepticism (Image-X/RKFI)
Actor Simbu, the prominent “thug” of Mani Ratnam’s upcoming Thug Life, reunited with the ace director after their 2018-released crime drama Chekka Chivantha Vaanam. During the audio launch, the actor expressed his gratitude to the director in an emotional speech.
Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam’s Thug Life has been creating enough buzz among the audience. The back-to-back trailer launch and audio launch of the film are constantly making headlines, reflecting the excitement of fans.
Recently, the VTV actor shared a heartfelt moment on stage to express his gratitude towards Mani Ratnam for his unwavering support during a challenging phase of his career.
Read Also: Kamal Haasan’s ‘Thug Life’ Trailer Sparks Age-Gap Debate Across Social Media Ahead Of Its Release
During the event, Simbu opened up about how the director had stepped in when others hesitated to work with him. Simbu, a big admirer of the director, shared how Anjali (1990) left a great impact on him during his childhood.
“I cried after watching Anjali,” he said expressing how he felt sad that he wasn’t a part of it despite being a child artist in Tamil cinema. Later, his dream director stepped into his life when he was surrounded by industry skepticism. He said, “There was a time when producers were even discussing giving me a red card,” referencing the Tamil Film Producers Council’s temporary ban on the actor from signing new projects in 2023.
Just when things were getting complicated, Simbu received a call from Mani Ratnam’s Madras Talkies and changed his career. The actor also credited the director for taking a risk when no one else would.
Read Also: Nayagan To VTV: Interesting Reunions In Mani Ratnam-Kamal Haasan’s ‘Thug Life’
He also revealed that he was approached to work in Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan, but due to other factors, he couldn’t sign the film.
After years of waiting, he finally joined the Mani Ratnam’s Thug Life.
Chekka Chivantha Vaanam, directed by Mani Ratnam, became a blockbuster with a stellar cast on board. The film united prominent talents of the industry such as STR, Arvind Swamy, Arun Vijay, Vijay Sethupathi, Prakash Raj, Jyothika, Aishwarya Rajesh, Aditi Rao Hydari, Dayana Erappa, Jayasudha, Thyagarajan, and Mansoor Ali Khan.
Check out the trailer here:
