Vishnu Vishal: ‘Aamir Khan told me that there is always a chance to bounce back’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Tamil actor Vishnu Vishal is basking in the success of his recent film “Gatta Kusthi 2." which has earned 46.22 crore worldwide. In an exclusive conversation with Variety India, the actor talks about his upcoming movies, his friendship with Aamir Khan and why this success is very special to him.

The success of Gatta Kusthi 2 comes after a period of mixed fortunes at the box office. What does its success mean to you?
‘Gatta Kusthi 1,’ which was released in 2022, did very well. In fact, ‘FIR,’ which had released the same year, was also a success. I missed the opportunity to capitalize on the film’s success back then. Last year, my film, ‘Aaryan,’ did not get a great response in theaters. I feel people didn’t connect with the climax. Amidst all this, I have been shooting for ‘Irandu Vaanam’ for the past three years. During this time, I started shooting for ‘Gatta Kusthi 2.’ I was feeling very low back then, and was wondering why people were not relating to my work. But I feel happy to see ‘Gatta Kusthi 2’ succeed. During my visit to the cinema halls, I saw that everyone had turned up with their families. That was overwhelming. For me, this success means way more than the numbers.

Related Stories

‘Irandu Vaanam’: Vishnu Vishal, Mamitha Baiju’s Romance is a Work Of Art in New Poster Shared by Director Ram Kumar

Aamir Khan Allots Dates For Ashutosh Gowariker Film, Rajkumar Hirani’s ‘3 Idiots’ Sequel to Roll In Mid-2027 (EXCLUSIVE)

Has the film’s success changed the way you’re looking at your career or choosing your next projects?
I was already following a certain path in terms of my career. I’m not changing anything. I am also confident about ‘Irandu Vaanam’s’ success. It is my first full-fledged love story. There is something unique about this film that I cannot reveal right now. It has been delayed because there is a lot of CGI work to be done. Besides this, I am also doing ‘Arunraja Kamaraj,’ which is about boxing. That is all I can reveal right now.
 
Does delivering a hit bring with it the pressure to maintain the success streak?
I believe that every film has an audience. I’m somebody who flips the genre with every movie. Most actors prefer to work in commercial cinema because it appeals to a wide audience. But when you opt for a specific genre, you must be prepared to cater only to a certain kind of audience. I am very clear about it. So, I’m not under pressure to clock the numbers. My focus is on delivering a fantastic product. 

How did your friendship with Aamir Khan evolve and do you seek his advice on cinema?
I first met him when he came down to Chennai for his mother’s treatment and he stayed with us for three months. Later, when my wife, Jwala, had problems conceiving, he introduced us to an IVF expert in Mumbai. In fact, he named my daughter Mira, inspired by his name, Aamir. In the last few years, I have spent a lot of time with him. Every time I felt low, I reached out to him. He gave me some good advice. He said, ‘Vishnu, there is always a chance to bounce back. If you get into this negative zone, you’ll always remain there. You are talented, I have seen some of your movies. You analyze scripts sensibly. All you need to do is just keep the focus. Ups and downs happen in cinema. Even I face it. ‘Lal Singh Chadda’ has not done well. If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone. So don’t lose hope.’
He was the first person I messaged after the movie’s first weekend. I sent him a screenshot of the weekend collections. He was very happy. He called me and said, ‘Vishnu, I’m so happy that you have bounced back.’

Your wife, badminton player Jwala Gutta, has experienced the highs and lows of professional sport. Does she offer her perspective to navigate the uncertainties of the film industry?
It really helps to be married to a sportsperson. When I feel low or doubtful, she motivates me. She has instilled a lot of confidence in me. She tells me to stop underestimating myself and that I will always bounce back.  

In June this year, you had posted a note about your autoimmune disease on Instagram. What prompted you to do that?
I didn’t do it for publicity or to gain sympathy. But there is often a misconception that actors lead perfect lives and face no problems or challenges. I have been battling depression for over seven years. I had posted about it a few years ago, too. It is an ongoing journey for me. We all go through difficult phases, but we must stay positive and fight back. My purpose was to inspire people to manage and overcome their problems.