Renowned Kannada superstar Shivarajkumar’s cameo role in Rajinikanth’s ‘Jailer’ has been a transformative experience in his career. With an impactful appearance lasting about ten minutes, he portrayed Narasimha, a former convict who aids the protagonist Tiger Muthuvel Pandian (Rajinikanth). This role not only garnered him a substantial fanbase in Tamil Nadu, uncharted territory for the Kannada star, but also left an indelible mark on his life, as he described it as “life-changing” in a recent interview.
Shivarajkumar Reflects on His Game-Changing ‘Jailer’ Cameo and Its Profound Impact
In a conversation with Galatta Plus, Shivarajkumar shared, “When I went for an interview in Chennai, people at the airport started calling me Narasimha. I didn’t know a 10-minute role could change someone’s life this much. It was life-changing for me,” he said, and added, “I am happy with what people have given me here. Now, I feel that I am re-entering the world again. It was new. I am a hero shouldering a film in 80 scenes. But, I played an eight-minute role, and now they compare me to Vikram’s Rolex. I don’t know what’s happening.”
Shivarajkumar went on to express how his wife, too, was taken aback by the overwhelming response to his role. He remarked, “You won’t believe it! When I went to Chennai, Hyderabad, the US and Dubai, you should see the people…they approached me saying Jailer. I went to a hotel and there were about 400 Tamilians there. Everyone took a selfie with me. The management asked me if the fans were disturbing. I said, ‘No no. I am enjoying it. Please leave this. Let me have this pleasure.'”
Shivarajkumar’s Impactful Journey: From Menacing in ‘Jailer’ to ‘Captain Miller’ Antagonist
Narasimha’s character undeniably made a profound impact on the Tamil audience, as they witnessed Shivarajkumar portraying a menacing on-screen presence, a deviation from his traditionally heroic roles that Kannada audiences have celebrated for decades. Shivarajkumar’s Tamil cinematic journey continues with his role in Dhanush’s period film, “Captain Miller,” directed by Matheshwaran, known for his work in “Rocky.” In this movie, the Kannada superstar takes on the role of the antagonist. Joining a stellar cast that includes Priyanka Mohan, Sundeep Kishan, and Nivedhithaa Sathish, the film is slated for a worldwide release in December.
On the flip side, Shivarajkumar eagerly anticipates the release of his highly awaited Kannada film, “Ghost,” scheduled to grace the screens on October 19th. Additionally, Shivarajkumar is juggling other exciting projects, including “Karataka Damanaka” and “Bhairathi Ranagal.”