Vijay Sethupathi clears air on video takedown claims at son's debut film launch, apologises publicly
The film marks Surya's official entry into Tamil cinema and is a sports drama directed by Anl Arasu.
In recent days, reports had surfaced alleging that Vijay Sethupathi had pressured individuals to take down certain videos related to 'Phoenix' from social media. This led to speculation and criticism, prompting the 'Maharaja' actor to clarify the situation during the launch.
Speaking to the media, Sethupathi said, 'If something like that happened, it might have been done unknowingly or by someone else. I sincerely apologise if anyone was hurt or misunderstood the intention.' His statement has been seen by many as an effort to calm tensions and avoid further controversy, especially during such a significant moment in his son's budding career.
'Phoenix' tells the story of resilience through sport, with Surya playing the lead role. The film also stars Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Devadarshini and J. Vignesh in key roles. Though initially slated for a November 2024 release, the makers delayed the launch to avoid a box office clash with Kanguva, starring Suriya.
Vijay Sethupathi, one of Tamil cinema's most respected actors, is now preparing for the release of his own upcoming film 'Thalaivan Thalaivii'. The romantic comedy, directed by Pandiraj, features Nithya Menen as the female lead and is set to hit theatres on July 25. The release will coincide with Ajay Devgn's much-awaited 'Son of Sardaar 2', setting the stage for a box office face-off.
Despite the recent controversy, the mood at the 'Phoenix' premiere remained largely celebratory, with audiences eager to see what the next generation of the Sethupathi family brings to the screen.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
37 minutes ago
- NDTV
Amid Deepika Padukone-Sandeep Reddy Vanga Row, Rashmika Mandanna Says, "It's Pretty Normal"
Deepika Padukone's reported exit from Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Spirit has ignited a fresh debate around actors' working hours and the demanding nature of film shoots. Weighing in on the conversation, actress Rashmika Mandanna, who previously worked with Sandeep Vanga on Animal, has now shared her perspective on the issue. In a recent interview with Mojo Story, Rashmika said, 'Today, when the debate is going on, I know a lot of people have opinions about it, and rightly so. But it's fair that you went and told your director, 'Okay, this is the timeframe I want to work in. Can we do this?'' she said. 'Of course, it's their personal debate. But just to throw a little light on these things, there are much worse scenarios happening where you are working 2–3 days without going home, without even having a little nap," she added. Sharing her own experience working across multiple industries, Rashmika spoke of the contrasting schedules between regional and Hindi cinema. She said, 'I do work in multiple industries, which is, for example, in the South – Telugu industry, Kannada industry, or Tamil industry, we work 9 am to 6 pm, like it's our office hours. After shoot, we spend time with family, we go to sleep and we head to shoot the next day. In Hindi, I've realised it's a 9 am to 9 pm shift. It's 12 working hours so now as an actor, I am open to both of these working hours because this is what my firm requires.' She didn't shy away from calling out the extreme lengths some productions go to. 'Some films you can start at 9 am and are supposed to finish at 9 pm, but they actually carry on till the next day, 9 pm. So you're working 36 to 48 hours straight. We work around the clock. It's pretty normal,' she added. Deepika Padukone's decision to leave Spirit reportedly stemmed from creative differences and demands that included an eight-hour workday, profit-sharing, and substantial compensation. The actress has since been replaced by Triptii Dimri in the film.
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Not Mani Ratnam or Sundar C, but this 2-film-old director gave Bagavathi Perumal career-altering role
Actor Bagavathi Perumal, who is mostly seen in Tamil films, recently played a pivotal role in the Hindi series The Hunt—The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case. The series, like the title suggests, talks about the aftermath of assassination of India's former Prime Minister by a Sri Lankan rebel group. It is available for streaming on SonyLIV and OTTplay Premium. Bagavathi Perumal Watch recent web series like The Hunt - The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case, Good Wife and more on OTTplay Premium right now Bagavathi Perumal, who plays investigation officer Ragothaman in the series, is known for playing a range of characters; from being an atrocious and abusive cop in Super Deluxe, to an unaware police officer in Tourist Family. The actor in an exclusive conversation with OTTplay spoke about his acting range, and that one director who tapped the potential in him. Bagavathi Perumal on playing character roles Bagavathi Perumal played supporting roles in films like 96, Blue Star, Super Deluxe and Tourist Family to name a few. His range varies from playing a villain, to a friend and characters with grey shades. Speaking about this, he said that every actor aims to be not boxed. 'The one who broke my pattern and pulled me out is Thiagaraja Kumaraja (director of Super Deluxe) sir. He was the one who wanted me to do the role, and it is because of him others began to see the potential in me,' he added. Also read: The Hunt - The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case actor Bagavathy Perumal: How well a supporting role is written is criteria to judge good writing The actor also gave an example of Singampuli who played a role not expected out of him in Tamil film Maharaja. 'He was shown in a completely different shade. Only a director par excellence can show an actor in a different form. We, as actors, get usually trapped or typecast in certain roles. It is because directors fail to see actors in a different light. There are only few filmmakers who can see beyond the stereotypes,' Bagavathy Perumal mentioned. The Hunt - The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, also stars Amil Sial, Sahil Vaid, Girish Sharma and others. The seven-episode series opened to positive reviews upon its release and was praised for its gripping narrative. Bagavathi Perumal was recently seen in Mani Ratnam's film Thug Life and Sundar C's Gangers.
News18
4 hours ago
- News18
Ranveer Singh Unleashes Wrath In Dhurandhar First Look: 'Bigaadne Ka Waqt Aa Gaya Hai'
Last Updated: Ranveer Singh stars in Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar. The first look was unveiled on his birthday, July 6. Dhurandhar Movie First Look: Ranveer Singh has unleashed his wrath in the first look from his upcoming film, directed by Aditya Dhar. Along with the promo, Dhurandhar's release date was also announced. While Ranveer has experimented with diverse roles throughout his career, this film seems different from anything he has done so far. Ranveer Singh looks menacing in the first look from Dhurandhar. The actor, in long hair and a smoke in his mouth, kills and beats in style, like it's no task. With upbeat music in the backdrop, the film offers a glimpse into the violence and gore in store. Apart from Ranveer, makers have also dropped first looks of the film's other leading cast, comprising Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Akshaye Khanna. Arjun Rampal, who is one of the key characters in the film, looked intriguing in a never-seen-before rugged avatar, sporting a golden tooth, vintage metallic shades, dense grey beard and classic raw expressions. The film's leading leady, Tamil actor Sara Arjun, was also introduced. The 2-minute 40-second first look is a raw and relentless visual onslaught, blending mystery, grit, and high-octane action. This powerful composition is created by Shashwat, featuring vocals by Jasmine Sandlas and a special collaboration with Hanumankind. Hanumankind, the acclaimed new-age artist known for his distinctive, genre-blending style, brings an unexpected edge to the track. 'An Inferno will rise Uncover the true story of The Unknown Men," read the caption on his post. The release of Dhurandhar was also unveiled – December 5, 2025. Take a look: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ranveer Singh (@ranveersingh) Last evening, Ranveer Singh deleted all his Instagram posts ahead of his birthday today, July 6. Not a single post was available on his profile, except for an Instagram story with the numbers '12:12" along with two sword emojis. Now we finally know why. The actor was cleaning the stage to unveiled something as spectacular as Dhurandhar first look. For the unversed, the actor last starred as a lead actor in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani in 2023. However, he didn't let fans miss his presence on the big screen. Last year, he returned as Simmba for an extended cameo in Rohit Shetty's Singham Again. Meanwhile, Aditya Dhar, who is directing Ranveer Singh in Dhurandhar, had a master plan for his birthday on July 6 this year. He secretly prepared to unveil a special unit of their highly anticipated film, Dhurandhar, as a gift for his leading man. Unfortunately, the news reached Ranveer. When the actor approached Aditya Dhar and asked him if it was true, the latter tried his best to evade the situation; however, Ranveer was in no mood to listen. He finally admitted it and requested the actor to trust him and patiently wait for the grand, official unveiling. Sources close to the production reveal that Aditya was extremely keen to surprise Ranveer and went to great lengths to keep it a secret. Despite Ranveer having seen early rushes of Dhurandhar, the final electrifying first look unit, slated to drop on his birthday, has been kept under absolute lock and key. The duo has had lengthy conversations, with Ranveer asking numerous questions in anticipation, which Aditya has patiently answered. 'Ranveer knows something special is coming, a true cinematic treat, but he hasn't seen the final cut," an insider shares, hinting at the delightful anticipation, adding, 'It's entirely Aditya's ingenious way of making this birthday not just memorable, but truly iconic for his superstar." Dhurandhar features an ensemble cast led by Ranveer Singh, alongside Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal. Presented by Jio Studios, a B62 Studios production, Dhurandhar, written, directed, and produced by Aditya Dhar, produced by Jyoti Deshpande and Lokesh Dhar, the film uncovers the untold saga of the origins of the unknown men. First Published:
