How Actors from the South redefined their life beyond Cinema?

The business of entertainment has seen passionate artists, aspiring to be seen on silver screen, against all odds. Starting from the Biggest Star of Bollywood, Shahrukh Khan, to the Super Star of South, Rajinikanth, a rags to riches story is a bestseller among movie goers.

Alia Bhatt mentioned in an interview that she knew she was going to be an actor from a tender age of 12. This did not work in her favour. Recently, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan have been criticised for dropping out of school to become actors. Have the stars from south made the dream of becoming an actor, a shallow one ?

A still from Dhanush's Debut Film - Thulluvatho Ilamai

We have seen Tamil Cinema industry's favourites like Ajith and Dhanush opting to become actors as a means to an end. Actor Ajith, a bike racer, had his heart set on becoming a motor racer. Dhanush, a 16-year old teenager was dragged from school by his brother Selvaraghavan to star as the lead for his debut film, Thulluvatho Ilamai, since the family could not afford to hire an actor.

Is the narrative around an artist being "excessively" passionate about cinema changing? We have heard Vicky Kaushal say that he lived his early 20s' walking from one audition to another. Has this story lost its charm on a listener?

Stars from the south are built different. They have never endorsed their need to remain loyal-until-death-part to the film industry. Many have ventured out to play with their personal hobbies and interests post their camera time.

Ajith, Vijay and Shruthi Hassan

Actor Vijay was seen mentioning in a decade-old interview that he wishes to serve the people who made his dreams come true. Actor Ajith, quick after his counterpart's voluntary retirement into politics, started his own racing team, Ajith Kumar Racing, and was seen securing 3rd place in a 24H race at the Dubai Autodrome in January 2025.

Actor Suriya called Agaram Foundation, his philanthropic endeavour, his life's greatest purpose. Shruthi Hassan, daughter of Kamal Hassan and the reigning Queen of Telugu industry, dropped it all post the pandemic to embrace the starving artist in her. Shruthi called it blissful to carry her 15kg heavy guitar set to bars and restaurants in London. We have seen her in her element multiple times, performing in audio launches and concerts across India.

These interests, hobbies and play things have nourished their off-screen persona and became an intrinsic part of themselves.

After painting the town red with their charm, these artists were emboldened to embrace a version of themselves that was lost behind all the silver screen sheen. They did not shy away from showing this side to the world.

Actor Rajinikanth

A 30-year old Rajinikanth taking a train to Chennai to build his life as an actor led to countless actors from the south walking the same path. The Chase for the Silver Screen Dream had little to do with Art. Rajinikanth has fearlessly proclaimed his love for the Divine Supernatural in all his speeches. His personality is a confluence of his wild adventures in the Himalayas and his indomitable spirit to remain the King of Box Office for decades. He attained his lofty position in the film industry, by paying the rare currency of unbridled authenticity.

Vijay Sethupathi has never shied away from admitting that he chose Cinema to become rich. Over the last decade, he fell in love with his craft organically which led him to choose unconventional stories and a daring OTT debut with Farzi. Vijay Sethupathi said he would have played Shilpa in Super Deluxe for free. He begged his director Thyagaraja Kumaravelu for an opportunity to play the role of a transwoman.

If this is the new norm in the industry, is Bollywood in trouble as the fans from the north are oscillating towards the artists from the south with labels like Honesty and Humility?

Vijay and Shahrukh Khan

Shahrukh Khan was the first to pick up this thread of thought. This led to SRK making the biggest move of career by working with Director Atlee for Jawan. Shahrukh has also picked up the mantra of South Indian Artists by remaining off the PR radar. He is seen only on big screen, with limited promotions for his movies which has made him attain the status of a Silver Screen God in the recent times.

Is it fair for the audience to look for the real person in an artist ?

The artists showing a glimpse of the person behind the veil, is a statement louder than box office collections. The audience yearning to see the human behind a star, has become the yard stick that measures an actor’s journey in the industry.