Vishnu Vishal on how Aamir Khan’s career advice changed his life: ‘Why are you trying to follow what others are doing?’

Vishnu also added, “The second reason is that I have been doing different content from way back. Films like ‘Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu’, ‘Mundasupatti’ and ‘Ratsasan’. But when you do different cinema, the audience’s taste has to get adapted to that kind of cinema.” Talking about his reluctance to do an out-and-out action movie that could help his career, Vishnu says, “For me, the start to the mass films was not action, but comedies. That’s why I tried ‘Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran’, ‘Katha Nayagan’ and ‘Silukkuvarupatti Singam’. From there, I wanted to transition into an action star. But only one film out of these three did really well. But my hit ratio with content-oriented films is higher. I love mass films and mass heroes. But the content I connect with and appreciate is different content. So I realized that I should not miss my core. Now I am trying to bring the core different ideas and bring the commercial elements. I am an MBA graduate, so I analyse these things.”

Vishnu Vishal was very enthusiastic about his career-altering relationship with Aamir Khan and how the star asked him to follow his heart and become the next Kamal Haasan if his heart is set on doing different kind of films. “I have been close to Aamir sir for the last two and a half years. I gave him a small analysis. I asked him where he got the courage to do such different films. He said that he believes in the story and the characters. I said I believe the same. That’s why I am a huge Aamir Khan fan. But I told him that in the south, the longest-standing superstars are action heroes. I only think of Kamal Haasan sir in terms of somebody who does very different content and has survived for so long. Mammootty sir has been trying things.” 

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Vishnu adds how Aamir Khan asked him something that changed his perception of his career, “He asked why can’t you be the first one, Vishnu?  That one question hit me really hard. He asked me why are you following what has happened and why are you trying to analyze and trying to follow what others are doing. Analysis is good, but find your own path, he told me. He also told me to believe in myself so convincingly that the universe aligns with ME. This is what I learned from Aamir sir.”

Aaryan directed by Praveen K is a serial killer mystery that deals with a police officer’s attempt to find out the reason behind the death of a crime novelist who has revealed a sinister game on live television, just before shooting himself. The film also stars Selvaraghavan, Shraddha Srinath and Manasa Chaudhary in other important roles.