Vijay Sethupathi Reveals Why He Quit Cameo Roles, Makes Rare Exception for Rajinikanth's ‘Jailer 2 ’

Vijay Sethupathi has opened up about why he no longer accepts cameo roles, saying that the way such appearances are promoted often misleads audiences. The actor, however, revealed that he made one special exception for Rajinikanth's upcoming Jailer 2.

Speaking in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Vijay Sethupathi explained that films featuring him in guest appearances are often marketed as though he is the lead. This creates false expectations among moviegoers, who walk into theatres expecting a full-fledged Vijay Sethupathi film.

"I've stopped doing cameos now. The exception is Jailer 2 only," the actor said, explaining why he has decided to stay away from guest appearances.

Vijay Sethupathi said such promotional campaigns ultimately disappoint audiences and also affect the perception of his own films. He added that he now wants viewers to know exactly what kind of role he is playing instead of being surprised by a brief appearance.

The National Award-winning actor also spoke about his changing approach to antagonist roles. " Now I'm doing the villain for the script only, which excites me. I heard so many scripts, but many are approaching me for typical villain characters... I don't want to do roles that are just promoting a hero, " he said.

Despite his decision to avoid cameos, Vijay Sethupathi said Rajinikanth was impossible to refuse. " I have done a cameo in Jailer 2 because I love Rajinikanth sir. To be with him, I get to learn a lot. The Superstar has survived in this industry for so many decades. There is so much to learn, " he said.

Directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, Jailer 2 is among the most anticipated Tamil films in production. The sequel reunites Rajinikanth with Nelson after the blockbuster success of Jailer and is expected to feature several special appearances, including Mohanlal and Shiva Rajkumar, with S. J. Suryah reportedly played the primary antagonist. Vijay Sethupathi's cameo has added even more excitement to the project.

On the work front, Vijay Sethupathi is currently shooting for a new film directed by Mani Ratnam, with Sai Pallavi playing the female lead. The versatile actor also has several projects lined up across Tamil, Telugu and Hindi cinema.