Exclusive! He can walk through fire: Jason Shah praises Vijay amid Jana Nayagan uncertainty

New Delhi: Actor Jason Shah, known for his intense screen presence and villainous turns, opens up about working in Jana Nayagan, his admiration for Thalapathy Vijay, collaborating with Bobby Deol, and why politically charged films often draw bigger crowds.

In a candid conversation with TV9 English, Shah also reflects on audience psychology, the rise of negative roles, and a memorable moment that left his Heeramandi co-star Aditi Rao Hydari momentarily intimidated by his looks.

Jason Shah admits he was deeply disappointed by the sudden postponement of Jana Nayagan. "I really wanted to see this film. I couldn’t believe it when I woke up on January 7 or 8 and learned the release was being pushed. That has never happened to any film I’ve done,” he says. Shah believes the delay is linked to Thalapathy Vijay’s political transition, calling it "a turning point in history.”

"He’s taking a massive step, and naturally, there will be opposition. But Vijay is a lionheart guy. I truly believe he can walk through fire,” Shah adds.

Reacting to Vijay’s decision to step away from films, Shah is full of admiration. "What he’s doing is amazing. He’s always been culturally rooted, even in his movies. He speaks about community and social issues that others avoid due to fear of being politically incorrect. He’s at the peak of his career—just look at the crowds in Malaysia. Walking away from that kind of fame to serve the country is unbelievable. Not everyone can sacrifice that.”

Although Shah doesn’t share screen space with Vijay, he plays a henchman to Bobby Deol. "It’s an avatar audiences haven’t seen me in before—very agent-like, action-heavy. The South does action on a big scale,” he says, while admitting concerns about reports of nearly 27 cuts in the film. "I hope the essence remains intact.”

 Speaking about working with Bobby Deol, Jason notes how villainous actors are often misunderstood. "People tell me, ‘You’re actually a nice guy.’ That’s the beauty of negative roles—you’re fully in the craft,” he says, adding that Indian cinema is finally giving antagonists their due, citing films like RRR, KGF, Dhurandhar, Jana Nayagan, and Toxic. "It’s the era of the bad guys,” he smiles.

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On why audiences preferred Dhurandhar over Ikkis, Jason points to the deep link between cinema and politics. ''Films reflect history and current realities. That’s why people connect. Even guys in my gym who are 55-plus took their families to watch Dhurandhar,” he explains.

Finally, recalling his time on Heeramandi, Jason shares a lighter moment. "Aditi Rao Hydari looked at me and asked the director, ‘Is he the one who’s going to slap me?’ I was in character and maybe a bit intimidating,” he laughs. "Sometimes, being real in the moment brings out the best performances.”