July is a crucial month for actor Sundeep Kishan. The month has opened with the streaming of Supper Subbu, Netflix’s first Telugu web series that he headlines, and he is looking forward to the release of the Tamil-Telugu bilingual film Sigma on July 31. Speaking for this interview after wrapping up the dubbing for Sigma, which marks the directorial debut of Jason Sanjay, son of superstar and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay, Sundeep says, “I am confident that Super Subbu will be appreciated by the audience across India, and Sigma is bound to be a celebration in theatres.”

The response to Super Subbu, which began streaming on July 2, reinforces the faith with which Sundeep signed the series nearly two years ago. He credits director Mallik Ram and the writing team for finding the right balance between humour and social commentary. “The writing is in the zone of Vicky Donorand Badhaai Ho. These films were entertaining, with an undercurrent of messaging. That’s the approach of Super Subbu as well.” Sundeep terms it a “coming of age” story of the protagonist, narrated with humour. “In the past, the audience has been appreciative of films like Padman that discussed sensitive topics with honesty. In Super Subbu, we discuss sex education and menstrual hygiene with earnestness. One of my favourite segments is how the writing addresses menstrual hygiene when Subbu conducts a secret session for the women in the village.”

The series is a departure from thrillers and period dramas that dominate the streaming space, Sundeep says, “It’s the kind of entertaining show I would watch. Modern Family, for instance, is one of my favourite shows when I prefer an easy watch.” 

Though he was a part of Family Man, Super Subbu is his first full-fledged web series. In feature films and long-format series, Sundeep says the process does not vary. “I do not follow a rulebook for acting. I understand the character closely and try experimenting in small ways. I imbibed some traits of my father, played by Murali Sharma, for some of the pauses and body language in the early episodes. This differs from the later portions where Subbu is on his own in the village. I am not sure if viewers will notice all this, but I tried to bring in these nuances.”

If the series has a partly realistic and partly quirky aesthetic, Sundeep credits it to the production and cinematography teams. “It was interesting to see DoP AJ Aaron’s team and the art department at work. Several members of these teams are Gen Z.” 

The making of ‘Sigma’

Speaking of Gen Z, the conversation shifts to him working with Jason Sanjay, 25, an alumnus of Toronto Film School, and London-based Central Film School. “Sanjay has been my biggest yardstick, of late, to see how I can relate to and connect with Gen Z filmmakers,” says Sundeep, adding. “Sanjay is extremely hard working with a clear vision for the film.”

Sundeep has worked with several directors for their debut films, including Lokesh Kanagaraj’sMaanagaram. “I feel like a kid when I work with Raj & DK but I don’t feel older in the presence of younger directors. I think I’ve managed to keep myself as relevant as possible,” he quips.

He recalls meeting Vijay on the sets of Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Leo. “Vijay sir told me that Jason likes my work and might get in touch with me for his debut film. I did not give it much thought and felt he was being incredibly sweet. Much later Jason got in touch. I liked his fresh approach towards commercial cinema.”

The actor describes Sigma as an action comedy with a heist element. “I cannot talk much about the story. Sigma stands for fighting for what you deserve. It’s something that Gen Z would identify with and I play a character that stands up for his beliefs.”

While Sigma is primarily a Tamil film, Sundeep mentions that the cast and crew have Telugu-speaking members, including Faria Abdullah who plays the female lead. 

Calm amid storm

Probe into the work atmosphere and whether Sanjay felt weighed down by expectations that come with being a superstar son and the increased scrutiny since his father’s political entry, and Sundeep says, “Not once did Sanjay make any of us feel that he is under stress. He is one of the sweetest boys I have interacted with. He strikes an easy rapport with everyone and remains cool-headed. His sense of grounding is similar to that of Vijay sir, from my interaction.”

Jason Sanjay’s choice to direct rather than act is also reminiscent of Aryan Khan choosing a similar path. Sundeep reckons, “I like how these boys are setting a new precedent. I am proud of Sanjay. Even if I was not the lead, I would root for this boy to win.”

Sigma marks Sundeep’s return to Tamil cinema after Captain Miller and Raayan, both films that fetched him appreciation. “I am in that phase of my career where I give my 100% to what I do and not worry about anything else. I am quite chilled about how Super Subbu and Sigma have shaped up.”