When Saravanan, rechristened as Surya, son of veteran Tamil actor Sivakumar first appeared on the Tamil silver-screen as an unassuming youngster, no one could have quite suspected his hidden depths or talent.
On the eve of one of his most important releases, Vaaranam Aayiram, here's a look at the journey of an actor who is also a star:
Nerukku Ner (1997)
It was director Vasanth who first spotted an actor underneath the rather bashful star-son, and persuaded Surya to star in Nerukku Ner alongside a much more experienced Vijay.
Romancing the svelte Simran and playing a character (named Surya) that is at loggerheads with Vijay, Surya might have looked every inch the newcomer, but he proved that he could hold his own.
Not many debut actors get a solid debut role, as he and Vijay played brothers to estranged husband Raghuvaran, wife Shanti Krishna, and were always out to get at each others' throats. The movie was a hit.
Interestingly, Simran plays Surya's wife in his latest Vaaranam Aayiram.
Text: Pavithra Srinivasan
Also Read: Showcasing Vaaranam Aayiram