Silambarasan TR's latest release Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu has taken a stunning opening everywhere and the actor has added yet another feather to his cap after last year's Maanaadu. The gangster film is his third collaboration with director Gautham Vasudev Menon after Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010) and Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada (2016) and the actor sat down for an exclusive interview with National Award-winning film critic Baradwaj Rangan, the Editor-in-Chief of Galatta Plus, to talk about his friendship with the blockbuster filmmaker and why he feels most comfortable working with him. 

Talking about how he got to know Gautham Menon, Simbu said, "After Minnale, I went and told my dad that I wanted to work with him and asked for a project to be set up. This was in the beginning period itself. At the time, one producer told my dad that he doesn't know how to make a film and will take a lot of time. These are things that people usually say as they talk about me. He too casually passed it on to my dad. So, our collaboration didn't happen at that time. But, I used to keep following his work like Kaakha Kaakha and his other films. Then, I got to meet him and I was trying to help him with the release of Vaaranam Aayiram. Everything fell in place correctly at that time and then VTV Ganesh came into the picture and we started work on Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa." 

Speaking further about the VTK filmmaker, Silambarasan added, "What I feel most comfortable with Gautham is I always like to act naturally. Apart from cinema acting, I wish to act normal. But, you can't do that in every film. For example, I did one film called Saravana and you'll see me overact in it. It was necessary for that character. But, with Gautham, I can act normally like how I am, and without giving an expression for cinema, I can do my own thing casually. I liked that a lot in VTV. And, people liked me a lot in that space, which was realistic, like a boy next door. And, I think acting naturally is very tough. I don't know whether people realize it or not, but they think if we act in an eccentric manner, it's a good thing. But, if you ask a real actor, it's difficult to portray yourself in a normal manner. You can cry on cue, but to show emotions of having cried without actually crying, and similarly acting without having to act. Like Bruce Lee used to say, 'You have to become water and just flow'. You have to act, but you should not. I believe in that concept. I feel I can tap into that when I work with Gautham. You get that space with very few directors. So, that's the main reason for that love for him."

Watch STR talk about his partnership with Gautham Menon and more in this candid conversation with Baradwaj Rangan in the interview below: