'He made everything very comfortable': Milind Soman opens up on his bond with Vijay Sethupathi on sets of ‘Kaattaan’

Milind Soman is all set to explore the digital space with the upcoming series ‘Kaattaan’, where he will be seen alongside Vijay Sethupathi. The show marks an exciting new chapter in Soman’s career as he ventures into streaming after years of working on films in multiple languages.

While Soman has previously been in Tamil and Telugu films, ‘Kaattaan’ offers him a fresh experience in the OTT format.

Reflecting on his journey, the actor shared with Mid-Day, “Well, I have done South Indian films before, Tamil films, Telugu films. It’s my first series.” He also recalled working in Tamil cinema nearly two decades ago.In ‘Kaattaan’, Soman takes on the role of Sivettan, a character that intrigued him instantly.

Unlike the repetitive parts he was once offered, this role brings something new to the table, aligning with his constant search for characters that challenge him creatively.

Milind Soman on moving away from repetitive roles

The actor admitted that there was a phase when he was repeatedly offered similar characters, prompting him to step back. “But then they were offering me a similar role in all these films. So eventually I said, I don’t want to do this same kind of role anymore,” he revealed, explaining his decision to wait for better opportunities.

For Soman, the uniqueness of a role matters more than its length or prominence. “If something may be positive, then I can do it… it just has to be something different from what I did before,” he said, adding that he is open to playing anything from a gardener to a grandfather, as long as it feels fresh. After turning down repetitive roles, the actor experienced a long gap before diverse offers started coming his way. “So eventually, I mean, 10 years later, I started getting roles like that,” he shared, adding that ‘Kaattaan’ was one such project that met his expectations for originality and substance.

Why did ‘Kaattaan’ stand out?

Soman explained that multiple factors influenced his decision to take up the series. “So that was one reason to say yes to it… the role is interesting. The character is interesting. And the people were great. That’s all that I look at,” he said, emphasising his instinct-driven approach to choosing projects.

Milind Soman's work experience with Vijay Sethupathi

Talking about his co-star, Soman had nothing but praise for Vijay Sethupathi. “Nothing really funny, but he’s just a really sweet person… he made everything very comfortable,” he said.

The actor added that their scenes together were stress-free and enjoyable, describing the overall experience as “very relaxed.”

Looking back at his career, Soman noted that filmmakers often approach him with a fixed perception. “Usually people come to me looking at me over the last 35 years,” he said, adding that he prefers not to repeat roles based on past performances.The actor concluded by highlighting what continues to excite him as an actor. “If they say you did that role and we want something like this, immediately I say no… it has to be something that you’ve never done,” he shared. He also enjoys understanding how directors perceive him and reshaping that image through his performances.