At the JioHotstar South Unbound event in Chennai, Kollywood actor Vijay Sethupathi, lovingly called Makkalselvan, took the stage with his trademark humility and heartfelt warmth. “I am very happy and extremely proud to be sharing the stage with such great people,” he said, acknowledging the legends—Mohanlal and Nagarjuna—standing beside him. His admiration for Mohanlal was immediate and sincere. “I am the biggest fan of Mohanlal sir. I like him a lot,” he said with a smile. Then came the line that set the crowd buzzing: “I have his autograph framed in my office.” For him, even the smallest gesture toward his idol meant the world. “Whether I gave him a shawl or a bouquet, I got the chance to express my love for someone I look up to. That itself thrills me.”

He then turned to Tollywood King Akkineni Nagarjuna, speaking with equal respect. “Nagarjuna sir is such a gentleman,” he said, adding with humour, “They do so much research on anti-aging… please research him! From his hair to his style, he’s so handsome and always energetic.” Sethupathi fondly recalled growing up watching Nagarjuna on screen. “Since childhood, I have watched his movies. He is still the same. Sir, maybe even when my grandchildren are born, you will still look like this,” he joked.

When the conversation shifted to Bigg Boss, his tone grew thoughtful. He spoke not as a host, but as someone transformed by the experience. “This show gives people the chance to understand human nature. The contestants, the host, the audience—everyone becomes part of that journey,” he said. According to him, Bigg Boss stands apart because of its honesty. “There is no drama there. And as humans, we can’t have the same personality throughout. We keep changing. We must look at ourselves.” That introspection is why Sethupathi calls Bigg Boss “a mirror.”

“I see myself in all the contestants,” he said. Like Nagarjuna, he too admitted that his first instinct was to refuse the show. “I said I wouldn’t do Bigg Boss. I said I didn’t know the format. I had never watched it. I had a different opinion about it.” But everything changed once he stepped into the house. “I did Season 8 first. Now I am doing Season 9.” He described the experience poetically: “After I went there, it felt like reading a great book.” He said he learned from the contestants—their tasks, their behaviour, and their emotional journeys.

Addressing criticism, he echoed Mohanlal’s views. “Criticism should always come. Critics are welcome because they give perspective.” And perspective, he said, is the soul of Bigg Boss. “The show discusses perspectives. We realise how many viewpoints exist.” More than answers, he enjoys the questions the show asks of him. “Bigg Boss raises so many questions for me. I have learned a lot from it. I’m very happy to be doing it.”

Before ending, he thanked JioHotstar for supporting creative storytelling. “My series has been released, and you are investing so much. A lot of people are working, and many are dreaming.” For Sethupathi, stories are the heartbeat of humanity. “There are many stories that need to be told. Art brings people closer, educates them, and moves them forward. That is a big step. Thank you for coming forward and investing in it.”