Rishikanth Opens Up About The 15 Years It Took To Find His Place In Tamil Cinema

Overnight success may make for a great movie plot, but for Rishikanth, becoming a leading man in Tamil cinema has been a 15-year journey filled with patience, self-reflection and plenty of waiting.

The actor, who is set to headline Raja Karuppasamy’s Modha Rathiri, believes every year he spent waiting for the right opportunity played an important role in preparing him for where he is today.

Speaking about his journey, Rishikanth recalled how his fascination with cinema began when he was young. As a child, he believed cartoons were actually filmed in real locations. It was only later that he discovered Chennai was the heart of the Tamil film industry and that this was where films were made.

For Rishikanth, coming from outside Chennai also meant that building connections and finding opportunities took considerably longer.

“Maybe if I was from Chennai and had more connects in the industry, I would have grown sooner. But because I am not from Chennai, it took me 15 years to grow properly,” he said.

But rather than looking back at those years with regret, the actor sees them as necessary.

“Every year, when I wouldn't get an opportunity, I would conclude that I wasn't ready yet. So I would analyse what I needed to do to get ready and grow,” he shared.

That mindset has become an important part of his approach to the industry. Having started his career with the online sketch group Temple Monkeys, Rishikanth gradually moved into films and series, appearing in projects including Hero, Indian 2, Coolie and the OTT series Mathagam.

Now, he finds himself stepping into a much bigger role, leading Modha Rathiri and preparing for the release of Karthik Subbaraj’s Dorothy on September 25, alongside Keerthy Suresh and Sananth.

Dorothy has already had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and is set to arrive in theatres, with music composed by the legendary Ilaiyaraaja.

For Rishikanth, however, reaching this point is not simply about becoming a familiar face on screen. He understands that getting an opportunity is only the beginning.

“Getting into cinema is easy, but sustaining here is difficult,” he said, stressing that if acting is going to be his profession, he wants to build a career that can last.

He also wants to make sure his career choices do not negatively affect the people closest to him.

“If I choose this as my profession, this is my personal choice. But I shouldn't let my choice affect my family or any loved ones,” he said.

Interestingly, Rishikanth has also found himself being compared to Superstar Rajinikanth, particularly for his mannerisms.

While he admits that such comparisons are flattering, he hopes audiences will eventually recognise him for his own identity.

“I have continuously been made aware of similarities between Rajinikanth and me. While it feels nice to listen to it in the beginning, I would want to be known for something I did,” he said.

His admiration for Rajinikanth, however, is undeniable. For Rishikanth, the Superstar was part of his earliest introduction to cinema.

He remembers watching Manithan as a child and repeatedly playing a cassette of Padaiyappa at home. Baba was another film he particularly enjoyed, while Sivaji: The Boss became his first Rajinikanth film watched in a theatre.

As he takes the next step in his own career, Rishikanth is now moving from being a passionate moviegoer to becoming a name audiences may soon remember in their own right. And after 15 years of waiting, learning and growing, perhaps his biggest chapter in Tamil cinema is only beginning.

Source / Image Credit : filmyfocus , Cinema Express