Vijay Sethupathi recalls Rajinikanth’s dedication on Jailer 2 sets

Vijay Sethupathi has praised Superstar Rajinikanth’s dedication to his craft, recalling how the veteran actor rehearsed a small scene multiple times on the sets of Jailer 2. Sethupathi said he wishes to remain equally dedicated to acting throughout his career

Chennai: Actor Vijay Sethupathi, who plays the lead in director Balaji Tharaneetharan’s eagerly awaited Tamil film ‘Baththa’, has said that he wishes to be as dedicated to his work as Superstar Rajinikanth is.

Participating in the audio launch event of the film, held at Sathyabama Engineering College in the city, the actor, among other things, said, “The one person who I’ve looked up to with fascination and have been totally in awe of is Superstar Rajinikanth.”

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He went on to explain, “I had recently acted in a scene in ‘Jailer 2’. I had gone to the sets. It was just a small shot. He (Rajinikanth) and I were supposed to talk about something. Director Nelson came in with betel nuts, leaves and cloves and told Rajinikanth, ‘Please use it if you need it.’

“For the kind of experience Rajinikanth sir has, he did not have to rehearse. But he took a piece of clove, some betel nuts and started chewing on them, even as he began folding the betel leaves. I realised he was checking the time I took to speak the dialogues and whether they were synchronised with the time he took to fold the betel leaf. He rehearsed it some five to six times.”

Vijay Sethupathi said, “If there is one thing that I wholeheartedly long and wish for, it is that till the time I die, if I am an actor, I have to be like that. I wish to be as dedicated in my work as he is.”

The makers had recently released a glimpse video from the film titled ‘The World of Baththa’.

The glimpse video opens with those close to Baththa eagerly awaiting his return. It is evident that the film is set in the 1980s. While Baththa’s daughter says she is scared and wants her father to return, his brother is seen exuding confidence that his brother will return.

A small child is seen saying, “Everybody is scared of him but he isn’t scared of anything.” The glimpse video also shows that people expect a big crime to take place, while the police are seen asking people if they suspect anyone.

Throughout the glimpse video, Baththa comes across as a ruffian who keeps bashing people. The video also gives the impression that he is not an ideal husband. In one scene, he is seen spitting out food served to him by his wife. In another sequence, his wife, played by Lijomol Jose, asks him where he was and says they had been searching for him. He replies in an arrogant tone, “You shouldn’t search for me. I will be found by myself.”

Starring Vijay Sethupathi and Lijomol Jose in the lead roles, ‘Baththa’ has been directed by Balaji Tharaneetharan, best known for the superhit film ‘Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom’, and presented by well-known director Atlee.

On the technical front, ‘Baththa’ has music by Sai Abhyankkar and cinematography by Selvakumar S K. R Kalaivanan has handled the editing, while T Muthuraj has served as the production designer.

The film is slated for a worldwide theatrical release on October 1, 2026.