Making his comeback after a two-year break, Aadi Saikumar will next be seen in the upcoming cop-film Shanmukha, which also stars Avika Gor. In an exclusive chat with The Pioneer, he gets candid and shares insights about the film, comparisons with his father’s cop films and more
suresh kavirayani
After a two-year hiatus, Aadi Saikumar is back with Shanmukha, a supernatural murder mystery where he plays a cop navigating a gripping investigation with a devotional twist. Set to release on March 21, the film marks his return to the big screen with a content-driven approach. In this exclusive conversation with The Pioneer, Aadi opens up about his role, working alongside Avika Gor, comparisons with his father Saikumar’s legendary cop portrayals, and his commitment to choosing strong scripts. He also discusses his fitness routine, future projects, and why he believes in spontaneous acting over method preparation.
“I am playing a cop in this one,” Aadi begins, adding that his previous cop role in CSI Sanatan didn’t perform well at the box office. However, Shanmukha brings a fresh twist by incorporating supernatural and devotional elements.
Aadi revealed that he took his time to select the right script. “I believe in strong content. That’s the key to a film’s success. With Shanmukha, we have focused entirely on the story,” he said. Unlike traditional commercial films, this one has only one song. “We didn’t want to force songs into the narrative,” he explained.
Describing the film, he said, “It’s a serious murder mystery that I investigate. Blending supernatural elements with a social drama isn’t easy, but those who’ve watched it say they liked the combination. It’s a risky film, but I’m confident it will mark my comeback.”
Despite mixed theatrical success, Aadi’s films have performed well digitally. “Some of my films may not have done well in theaters, but they’ve found a strong audience on OTT platforms,” he noted.
Aadi’s father, Saikumar, is renowned for his powerful dialogues in police-centric films, particularly his iconic role as Agni in Police Story. Naturally, the question arises—does Shanmukha have any impactful dialogues?
“There are a couple of strong dialogues, but they aren’t as intense as my father’s,” Aadi admitted.
When it comes to choosing scripts, Aadi makes independent decisions but values his father’s input. “My dad is busy with several films and is considered a lucky charm for many filmmakers. I personally decide on my scripts, but I do listen to his suggestions,” he said. Aadi has no plans for another hiatus. “I’m currently working on three to four films. Shambhala is one of them, a content-driven film. Then there’s Sub Inspector Yugandhar, another cop-based story. After this, I want to take a break from cop roles,” he shared. He added, “I’ve done quite a few cop films, so I want to explore different genres. I’ve signed a romantic comedy with director Sattibabu, which will be full of entertainment. This year, I plan to release at least two to three films.”
Discussing the evolving audience preferences, Aadi emphasised the importance of strong content. “Look at Court, which became a massive hit recently. If it had been released two or three years ago, it might not have had the same impact. Timing is crucial,” he explained. He also stressed the need for aggressive promotion. “Marketing a film before its release is essential. You have to take the film to the audience and create buzz,” he said.
When asked about his acting approach, Aadi said he prefers spontaneity over excessive preparation. “I ask the director for my character’s backstory, but I believe in spontaneous acting rather than over-preparing. If I prepare too much, it becomes method acting. I enjoy living in the moment,” he explained.
For his cop role in Shanmukha, he took inspiration from Suriya’s performances. “I played a commando in Operation Goldfish and watched some of Suriya’s films to understand his approach. I also took tips from my father, who is known for his cop roles,” he added.
Aadi expressed his admiration for his co-star Avika Gor. “She is very talented. We were supposed to work together earlier, but it didn’t happen. Now, with Shanmukha, we finally got the chance. Her role is very interesting and she performed exceptionally well,” he said.
Aadi and his father previously worked together in Chuttalabbayi, which performed well. He hinted at another collaboration. “Dad is busy with multiple projects, but we are planning to work together on a fantasy film soon. We’ll announce the details shortly,” he revealed. With his family’s strong connections to Kannada cinema, Aadi was asked about his Kannada debut. “Right now, I’m tied up with multiple Telugu projects, but I will definitely make my Kannada debut soon. My cousin, Ravi Shankar’s son, is making his debut there and Ravi Basrur is composing music for it. He’s also working on Shanmukha and his background score will be one of the film’s highlights,” Aadi said. Although Aadi has previously worked in web series, he isn’t keen on them at the moment. “I’m currently focused on films. If a big platform like Amazon or Netflix approaches me, I’ll consider it. But I don’t want to do web series for smaller platforms,” he clarified.
On maintaining fitness, Aadi shared that he works out for at least an hour daily. “If I’m continuously working, I do an hour in the morning. Otherwise, I hit the gym in the evening too,” he said. Given the amount of action he’s doing in his films, fitness has become crucial. “My father always emphasises the importance of staying fit,” he concluded.
