(This article is authored by Alar) 

Vijay Sethupathi, the versatile actor has conquered the hearts of millions of fans across India with his stellar performances in various languages. From Kollywood to Mollywood, from Bollywood to Tollywood, Vijay Sethupathi has proved his mettle as a pan-Indian star who can fit into any role with ease.

One of the filmmakers who is impressed by Vijay Sethupathi’s talent and charisma is Jude Anthany Joseph, the Malayalam director who delivered a blockbuster with his recent film ‘2018’. The movie, which was based on the Kerala floods that ravaged the state in 2018, featured an ensemble cast of Tovino Thomas, Tanvi Ram, Kalaiarasan, Vineeth Srinivasan, Aparna Balamurali, Asif Ali and Lal.

In an exclusive interview with a national media outlet, Jude Anthany Joseph expressed his desire to direct Vijay Sethupathi in his next film. He revealed that he is planning to collaborate with Nivin Pauly, another popular Malayalam actor, for a mass action entertainer. He said that he wants to cast Vijay Sethupathi alongside Nivin Pauly in the film, as he thinks they would make a great pair on screen.

Vijay Sethupathi made his Malayalam debut with ‘Article 19 (A)’, a political thriller directed by Indrajith Sukumaran. He played a cameo role as himself in the film, which also starred Mammootty and Manju Warrier. He is also awaiting the release of his first Hindi film ‘Mumbaikaar’, directed by Santosh Sivan. He has a slew of Tamil films lined up for release, including ‘Yaadhum Oore Yavarum Kelir’, ‘Gandhi Talks’, ‘Merry Christmas’, and ‘Viduthalai Part 2’. He is currently shooting for his film ‘Jawan’, directed by Gokul.

Jude Anthany Joseph, on the other hand, is basking in the success of ‘2018’, which has been hailed as one of the best films of 2023. The film has received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike for its realistic portrayal of the Kerala floods and its aftermath. The director has also hinted at a possible film with Mohanlal, the superstar of Malayalam cinema.