Vishnu Vishal on friendship with Aamir Khan, how Rajinikanth’s advice changed his perspective on acting: ‘Lal Salaam is the best gift for…’

Excerpts from the interview:

It is the toughest thing for an actor these days to deliver consistent hits. How do you manage to stay in the business?

Covid put a lot of uncertainty on a lot of people. People like me were told that we should stop hoping for theatrical releases. I got a lot of offers to do OTT films and even direct TV releases. But I was confident that I would not budge because I was doing FIR, and Gutta Kusthi and Aaryan were in the pipeline. I knew I had to bring FIR to the big screens, and if I rode the tide, I would emerge as an individual entity. That’s why I sent out a strong message that I will be only acting in my production. Wanting to be individualistic is perceived as arrogance in the industry. I am now proud I did that because I now have five projects in the pipeline. Now, I am open to working with other producers as they are ready to back me in my vision. I had to prove myself to get here. But I have come to the crucial phase of my career. If I pass this phase, the next two to three years, successfully, then I have a solid game in hand.

At present, I think Lal Salaam is a cumulative yield of all the effort I have put in the past 15 years. To act alongside Rajinikanth Sir as a hero, with my friend Vikranth in it, AR Rahman Sir’s music… I couldn’t have asked for a better gift.

In FIR, you played a Muslim protagonist, who is perceived as a terrorist. Now, in Lal Salaam, it is about religious harmony. Are you choosing such subjects consciously?

I don’t go searching for the same subject, but whenever I come across something that’s engaging I pick it up. My movies have always had such themes. Neerparavai was about Tamil Nadu fishermen getting killed in water borders when there’s no such borders exist in reality. Jeeva was about caste issues in politics and cricket. FIR was about the wrong perception of Muslims. Lal Salaam is about how politicians use religion as a big tool to divide people. This film tells you how people should be very careful and not lose out on humanity. I picked up these films because I believe that humans should not be divided on the lines of religion, caste, creed, or anything. Not even in terms of gender, that’s why I made Gutta Kusthi. I believe everyone should live in harmony irrespective of their gods, beliefs, food choices, sexual orientation, and opinions. And that has been the country I grew up in, and I am sad that it is changing. As a police officer’s son, I have heard my dad discuss his DCR (Daily Crime Report), and I used to be shocked at how ruined we were. So, when I come across films that propagate humane values, I pick them up.

Can you share some memorable moments with Rajinikanth on the sets of Lal Salaam?

There are two. One is the first shot of him in Lal Salaam… that stylish walk that we have all grown up watching. It was a great moment to finally see it in person. The second one is a conversation I had with him between shots. He praised my movies Vennial Kabbadi Kuzhu and Gutta Kusthi. I told him that I was on a search to find a style or body language for myself. He was about to reply but was interrupted as the shot was ready. He then returned in a flash and said, ‘Vishnu means good content, good cinema… that’s your style. The body language and other things will come in due course.’ It gave me the confidence to do what I have been doing all this while. I discuss with my directors, brainstorm about what’s going on, and all that. Now, I do them with conviction and that’s because of Rajini Sir…and Aamir Khan Sir.

On the one hand, Rajinikanth acts in films like Kaala and Lal Salaam which fight for social equality. On the other, he is criticised as ‘Sanghi’, which was addressed by Aishwarya. What’s your take on this duality?

I would just say he is a spiritual person. Just because he is from a particular religion naming him as something is not fair. He has always been a spiritual person and has always been part of such films. He is mature enough to understand difference. People say things without a second thought. I have been hurt because of many such careless comments. However, I understand people like to take sides and want to be in a mob which gives them a sense of camraderie. That happens more in cinema because of the reach of the medium. I only believe that Rajini Sir is a superb human being. Just because he is a superstar, he doesn’t have to be criticised for everything he does.

We would eventually come to your friendship with Aamir Khan…

I got an opportunity to see him work from close quarters and was blown away by his process. He was in Chennai for the treatment of his mother, and I got to interact with him and get to know him. Let me just say Aamir Khan is one superstar friend I have now (laughs). He saw Ratsasan and FIR, and praised them. I learned a lot by just observing him work. If I can acquire or get into the process that he has for acting, marketing, and all that, that would make me do great films. So, it was Rajini Sir and Aamir Sir who have made me more confident.

Till the trailer of Lal Salaam was released, it was perceived to be a film with two heroes, featuring Rajinikanth in a cameo. Now, it looks like you are the protagonist. Why was it marketed differently?

It is a delicate question. Yes, the perception is the problem with cinema. It determines a lot of things, especially for an actor like me, who is in the growth phase. However, I always believe the movie will do the talking. Once it is released, people will realise my role. Everyone has gotten important space in the movie, and Rajini Sir has the biggest role to play. And I wanted him to be the biggest because, at the end of the day, I am a fan. I would be disappointed if the role didn’t justify his presence in the film. There’s no Lal Salaam without Rajinikanth. I was okay with forgoing my portions if he had to be included in the film. I would have been upset if he didn’t get the lion’s share. At the end of the day, the film has to win. I just saw to it whether I got the space and importance, which were promised. I should say the promise was kept.