For Suriya, finding his own identity as an actor was not simply about choosing different roles. It also meant consciously stepping away from the shadow of his father, veteran actor Sivakumar. In a recent interview, the actor recalled an incident that made him realise how strongly people connected him with his father. His candid recollection shows how that moment pushed him to develop a style of his own rather than being compared with his father throughout his career.
Suriya reveals why he stopped watching Sivakumar’s films
Suriya recalled visiting a minister’s house with a friend to deliver an invitation. His friend introduced him as Sivakumar’s son, after which the minister told him that he resembled his father and suggested that audiences would expect him to follow the same path. Suriya said the comment affected his thinking as a young actor. “That comment stayed with me. I realised that if I kept watching Appa’s films, I might unknowingly pick up his mannerisms and acting style. My ego was triggered at that point, and I decided to stop watching his films for some time. I wanted to discover who I was as an actor and make sure I was not simply repeating what my father had already done,” he said in an interview with Suma. The decision became part of his effort to create a distinct identity in Tamil cinema.
Suriya on ‘Vishwanath And Sons ‘ and creating a fresh romantic experience
Speaking about ‘Vishwanath And Sons,’ Suriya also praised producer Vamsi and director Venky Atluri for approaching the project with genuine excitement. He recalled how they discussed several of his earlier films and wanted to recreate the emotional experience they had enjoyed as fans. “They came to me with the excitement of fans and spoke about the films of mine that they loved. They wanted to create something that gives the audience a similar feeling. Every day on this project was enjoyable. Writing three women characters with completely different personalities and emotional shades is not easy, and that was one of the things I really appreciated,” Suriya said. His comments suggest that the film aims to offer more than a conventional commercial romance.
‘Vishwanath And Sons’ release date, cast and expectations
‘Vishwanath And Sons’ is scheduled to release in theatres on August 14 and is being promoted as a romantic family entertainer. Suriya believes the film does not follow any single reference point and instead draws from the kind of movies audiences enjoy revisiting. “We have seen action films that become benchmarks, but audiences also return to films like Pretty Woman, Notting Hill and The Fault in Our Stars because they leave behind a warm feeling. I feel ‘Vishwanath & Sons’ can create that kind of experience. It has its own romance, emotions and conversations, and I hope viewers finish the film with a smile and carry those moments with them,” he added. With the release approaching, Suriya’s words have added curiosity around the film’s different take on romance and relationships.
