Vijay Sir Was First To Ask Me If I Would Become Actor: Fahadh Faasil Recalls Meeting Thalapathy At Age Of 13

Fahadh Faasil reveals Vijay predicted his acting career during a childhood meeting at the age of 12 or 13

Thalapathy Vijay was the first person to tell Fahadh Faasil that he would become an actor one day, the latter revealed. The Malayalam star recalled meeting Vijay as a 12 or 13-year-old on the sets of Kadhalukku Mariyadhai, which was directed by his father, Fazil and shot at the family home. Fahadh spoke about the difficult period after the debacle of his debut film Kaiyethum Doorath (2002) in an interview with Behindwoods TV and veteran filmmaker K.S. Ravikumar. Fahadh opened up on how the setback made him leave India and spend a few years in the US.

Fahadh Faasil remembers meeting Vijay as child

Fahadh said he first met Vijay when the latter was shooting at his house for Kadhalukku Mariyadhai. He was 12 or 13 at the time and had come home for vacation. The Tamil romantic drama, released in 1997, was directed by Fahadh's father Fazil and was a remake of the filmmaker's Malayalam hit Aniyathipraavu. The film went on to become a huge success and played a key role in Vijay's rise as a commercial star.

Recounting their interaction, Fahadh said Vijay was the first person to ask him about pursuing acting. "Vijay sir was the first person to ask me if I would become an actor," he stated.

The two didn't have a long conversation, but Fahadh recalled that the chat was mostly about films. He also recalled Vijay talking about Kushi while working on Fazil's Kannukkul Nilavu. "He was planning to do Kushi (2000) while working on Kannukkul Nilavu (also directed by Fazil). I remember him sharing the idea for Kushi with me. We only talked about movies at that time," he shared. Fahadh said that he never imagined at that time that Vijay would enter politics and become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Fahadh on Kaiyethum Doorath's failure

Fahadh went on to make his acting debut with Kaiyethum Doorath (2002), directed by his father Fazil. The film, however, bombed at the box office, and the reaction to it had a lasting impact on the young actor. When the film came out, Fahadh was only 17 or 18. He admitted that he took its failure personally and decided to walk away from the film industry.

He left for the US after the film's release in 2002 and returned to India in 2009. Fahadh had gone to America to study engineering, but he ended up studying philosophy. His experiences abroad also introduced him to international cinema. He remembered discovering South American films and other foreign cinema through people and friends he met there.

Flop debut to one of India's most acclaimed actors

When Fahadh finally decided to get back to cinema, his first plan was relatively simple. He wanted to do one film for his father. But that return was the start of a very different chapter in his career. Fahadh has made a mark for himself with a series of critically acclaimed performances in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu cinema over the years.

The actor said he would be making his 66th film, and looking back on his journey, he pointed to the distance he has come since his troubled debut.

About Don't Trouble The Trouble

Fahadh is busy promoting Don't Trouble The Trouble, his first Telugu film as a lead protagonist. The fantasy film is helmed by debutant Shashank Yeleti and produced by Shobu Yarlagadda, Prasad Devineni and S.S. Karthikeya. S.S. Rajamouli is presenting the project.

The film is produced by Arka Media Works and Showing Business. Kerala release is handled by Bhavana Studios. Release date: October 2. Don't Trouble The Trouble is slated for release on October 2.