RJ Balaji On The Biggest Lesson He Learnt From Mani Ratnam

Before Mani Ratnam’s Kaatru Veliyidai (2017), RJ Balaji had acted in around 15 films. But behind the scenes, there was something that stood out for him during its filming. “All the crew members stayed together in one hotel in Ooty.” In all of his previous films, the actors would stay in a separate hotel and the junior artists would spend their time in a smaller hotel. “There would always be hierarchical differentiation. But in Kaatru Veliyidai, not only did all of us stay together but we would eat food together and Karthi sir, Mani sir and I would play table tennis. It was heartwarming.”

And when Balaji started making his own films, he was determined to implement the same culture. “For Mookuthi Amman (2020), we shot for over 42 days in Nagercoil and we all stayed together as a unit. And for Veetla Vishesham (2022), the entire team including the lightman stayed together at the same hotel in Coimbatore” recalls the actor. He further adds that he learnt a lot more while working on the sets with Ratnam. “I learnt a lot of acting techniques during the 15-day shoot and it helped in my subsequent films. It was only in this film that I realised that not doing anything in front of the camera is also good acting. There is importance in being calm and still,” says the actor who further adds that he still hasn’t got the courage to watch the film.

It was in Sundar C’s Theeya Velai Seiyyanum Kumaru (2013) that the popular radio jockey decided to try his luck with acting. He remembers how he had no confidence and was unable to act on the first day of the shoot. “It was a fun set and I would often have lunch with Sundar C sir and Siddharth. One day, a senior actor pulled me aside and asked why I was eating along with Sundar C sir and advised me to call Siddharth as sir. All of this was new for me and made me feel uncomfortable. I finished college and immediately started working, so I would even refer to the CEO by his first name. I was disillusioned with all the rules,” reminisces the actor. 

He further explains why he stopped doing small roles like the hero’s friend in films. “If you are acting in a role which has very little importance in a particular film, the entire crew of the film would treat you the same way. You would be given very little importance. Whether you like it or not, you would have to get up and greet the major people associated with the film. There will be no scope for the role as well. There is a dangerous consequence of working like that. Neither do you have any satisfaction with the work that you are doing nor will the people around you treat you well. This might affect your level of self-confidence.” 

RJ Balaji is now gearing up for his next, his first thriller film, Run Baby Run. The film, co-starring Aishwarya Rajesh and Isha Talwar is slated to hit the screens on February 3.