From Dubai accountant to superstar: Five things about ‘Jawan’ anti-hero Sethupathi

Dubai: With his latest role as the villain in blockbuster ‘Jawan’, South Indian superstar Vijay Sethupathi’s stardom has reached bigger heights – and his story has gone viral yet again. The versatile actor has performed in more than 50 movies, most of them chartbusters.

In his latest stint as the antagonist in ‘Jawan’, he goes head-to-head with Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan. Sethupathi has always been vocal about his humble roots. Here are five intriguing facts that shed light on the enigmatic actor, who continues to leave an indelible mark on Indian cinema.

The Versatile Actor: Sethupathi is known for his ability to play diverse kind of roles and bringing comedic angle to even his dark roles. He started in theatre and TV before landing a movie role in 2006. Since then, he has acted in over 50 movies – predominantly in Tamil but also in Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu, and Kannada. Above: Vijay Sethupathi and Kamal Hassan.

Memorable roles: From his breakthrough in "Pizza" to memorable performances in films like "Sundarapanidan," "Soodhu Kavvum," and "Orange Mittai," Sethupathi has continuously pushed his acting boundaries.

Dubai Nostalgia: Dubai holds a special place in Sethupathi's heart, the actor said in an interview with Gulf News, as he reminisced about his time strolling through the bustling bazaars of Bur Dubai and enjoying shawarmas on Friday evenings. He reportedly worked in Dubai as an accountant for three years, between 2000 and 2003, before heading back to pursue his acting dreams.

A Love Story Transcending Borders: Vijay Sethupathi's love story with wife Jessy Sethupathi blossomed while the star was in Dubai, leading to a heartfelt connection that eventually led to their marriage in 2003. Reports claim that the duo met online and became friends, before deciding to wed. The couple share two children. Above: With Nayanthara.

Son Surya: Vijay Sethupathi's son, Surya, was named in memory of a school friend who passed away during their school years. Surya also played a younger version of Sethupathi in the film "Naanum Rowdy Dhaan."

Next release: As he continues to make waves with "Jawan," Vijay Sethupathi has been keeping fans eagerly anticipating his next release, and shared the first look from his upcoming film, "Maharaja."