Star Hero Under Fire: Blames Directors, Not Himself

Silambarasan TR is currently awaiting the release of Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam, in which he stars alongside Kamal Haasan. Simultaneously, he has begun shooting for his next film with Ramkumar Balakrishnan, tentatively titled STR 49.

In a recent interview, Silambarasan revealed that many people questioned his punctuality during the shoot of Thug Life, implying that he was arriving on time only because it was a Mani Ratnam film.

He clarified that his punctuality wasn’t due to fear, but because Mani Ratnam sets an example—he arrives on time, completes shoots efficiently through meticulous planning, and ensures prompt payments. Silambarasan added that if he had worked with more directors like Mani Ratnam earlier in his career, he could have done many more films.

This statement went viral and sparked criticism online. Some netizens felt that Silambarasan TR still refuses to acknowledge his past mistakes and is instead indirectly criticizing other directors under the guise of praising Mani Ratnam.

Many pointed out that actors like Suriya, Dhanush, Ajith, Vijay, Kamal Haasan, and Rajinikanth consistently deliver their work on time, regardless of who the director is—one reason they’ve maintained consistent success compared to Silambarasan.

However, industry sources say that following his remarkable physical transformation, Silambarasan has become more disciplined and professional, now regularly reporting to set on time.

It remains to be seen how his upcoming films will perform and whether they will mark a true comeback, propelling him toward greater stardom in Kollywood.