Vijay Sethupathi fears overexposure, reveals why he doesn’t do interviews: ‘I have to think a lot… dimag ka batti nahi jalti’

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He explained, “I fear too much exposure, talking so much about films and about myself. I fear I may detach my audience from my characters, and my films. I don’t want to disturb them while watching films. Even on my Instagram, I have only a couple of personal photos. Earlier, there were only one or two award shows and you would get to see actors at very few moments. Now, there is too much exposure, which makes me afraid.”

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Also, Sethupathi can’t think of different answers to the same question. If he has to, his brain doesn’t support him. The actor added, “Then, everyone asks the same question and it becomes very difficult to give different answers, bohot sochna padta hai (I have to think a lot). They only see the person who is answering but they don’t know what the question was.”

He emphasised, “Bohot sochna padta hai jawaab ke liye, dimaag ka batti nahi jalta hai (I have to think a lot for an appropriate answer. The brain doesn’t work at such times). So, it’s better to keep quiet. If a person thinks of me as an intellectual after watching my film, then let that imagination be. Better to be an intellectual and brilliant actor in someone’s imagination, it’s nice. It’s better than coming and showing myself as a dumb actor. This is not a humble answer, it is real.”

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Sethupathi is so wary of attending public events that he once excused himself from an award ceremony by saying he doesn’t have clothes, so he can’t attend. Before interviews, he has to work on himself a lot. “I need to meditate before interviews, not look at anything negative on my phone as that affects the brain, so whatever answers the brain gives, it’s a choice. You have to be very careful. So, better not to do it. Araam se baith jaao acha hai (Better sit and relax),” concluded Vijay Sethupathi.

Merry Christmas will be released on January 12. The movie also stars Radhika Apte, Sanjay Kapoor, and Vinayak Pathak in key roles. The film will be released both in Hindi and Tamil.