Actress Bhavani Sre has opened up about her experience of working with Suriya in Vishwanath And Sons, revealing that she initially felt nervous and star-struck while facing the actor on set.
Directed by Venky Atluri, the film features Suriya in the lead alongside an ensemble cast that includes Mamitha Baiju, Raveena Tandon, Nassar and Bhavani Sre. The film has been drawing attention for its mix of family drama, romance and relationship-driven storytelling.
In an exclusive conversation with Zoom, Bhavani spoke about her experience on the film and recalled the encouragement she received from Suriya during one of her scenes.
Bhavani Sre Says She Was ‘In Awe’ of Suriya
For Bhavani, working with Suriya carried a different kind of pressure because she had grown up watching his films.
Recalling the first time she faced the actor on camera, she said:
“Having watched him while growing up, the first time I worked with him in a film, I was actually in awe.”
Although Bhavani had already worked in several films, she admitted that sharing a scene with a major star could naturally make an actor nervous.
“Although I am a few films old, when you meet a big star, you do get nervous and star-struck. That happened when I faced the camera with Suriya sir.”
The actress said the nerves became particularly noticeable just before she had to perform her scene.
‘How Am I Going to Do This?’
Bhavani recalled wondering how she would approach the scene while standing opposite Suriya.
“Before giving my shot, I was thinking, ‘How am I going to do this?’”
However, Suriya’s approach helped ease some of that pressure.
According to Bhavani, the actor encouraged her before the performance by telling her:
“This is a good role, ma.”
The actress went on to perform her monologue, after which Suriya complimented her performance.
Suriya Praised Bhavani for Embracing Her Character
Bhavani revealed that Suriya’s reaction after the scene stayed with her.
She recalled him telling her:
“You are embracing the character, and that’s very good.”
For an actor, appreciation from a colleague can be meaningful, but Bhavani said receiving those words from someone of Suriya’s stature made the moment particularly special.
“A comment like that from a star like him means a lot.”
The experience also appears to have helped her settle into the atmosphere of the film, particularly after the initial nerves of sharing the screen with a star she had watched growing up.
Bhavani Sre Calls Vishwanath And Sons ‘Quite Fun’
Beyond her scenes with Suriya, Bhavani described her overall experience on Vishwanath And Sons as enjoyable.
The film brought together several established performers, including Suriya, Raveena Tandon and Nassar, and Bhavani said the cast eventually worked together like a unit.
While the project involved emotionally complicated relationships, the atmosphere on set was different from the intensity seen on screen.
For Bhavani, the collaborative experience made the project memorable.
From Kaa Pe Ranasingam to Vishwanath And Sons
Bhavani Sre’s acting journey began with Kaa Pe Ranasingam, a film that proved important in building her confidence as a performer.
The actress has previously spoken about having doubts and inhibitions early in her career. The positive response to her performance, however, helped convince her that she could make a place for herself as an actor.
She later took on a full-fledged role in Vetrimaaran’s Viduthalai.
Working with a filmmaker of Vetrimaaran’s reputation so early in her career also gave Bhavani a different perspective on acting and filmmaking.
Bhavani Sre Recalls Vetrimaaran’s Different Working Style
According to Bhavani, Vetrimaaran did not always give actors the complete script, allowing them to approach individual scenes without knowing everything that would happen later.
For her, the approach created a different kind of acting experience.
Instead of entering every scene with complete knowledge of the larger narrative, the performers had to respond to what was happening in front of them.
The experience contributed to Bhavani’s understanding of how different directors can bring out different qualities in an actor.
Bhavani Sre Wants to Experiment With Different Roles
As her filmography continues to expand, Bhavani appears keen to avoid being restricted to one type of character.
With several projects associated with her work this year, the actress said she is open to experimenting with different genres and roles.
Her approach is straightforward:
“I just try to take on any role I am approached for.”
That willingness to explore different characters could allow her to build a varied filmography rather than becoming associated with a single screen persona.
Working With Suriya Becomes a Memorable Chapter
For Bhavani Sre, Vishwanath And Sons appears to have been significant both professionally and personally.
The film gave her an opportunity to work alongside Suriya, Raveena Tandon and Nassar while also allowing her to take on a role within Venky Atluri’s relationship-driven story.
But it was Suriya’s encouragement that seems to have left the strongest impression.
What began with Bhavani wondering “How am I going to do this?” eventually turned into a moment of reassurance when one of Tamil cinema’s leading actors appreciated her performance.
For an actor still building her career, that kind of encouragement can become an important source of confidence.
