Aadhi Shankaran, Don Sebastian, Punyalan – these three names are more than enough to identify the actor. Starting with a supporting role in a sitcom and earning praise from legends like Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam, Sagar's journey has been nothing short of a blockbuster movie. Comedy, action, horror – this young man has showcased his skills across genres and won millions of hearts. In a candid conversation with ETimes, Sagar shares insights into his acting career over the last decade.
I am Don Sebastian
Legends say you don't have to do 100 movies to make your mark; even a single character can change your life. For Sagar, that character is Pani's Don Sebastian. "What a blessing! This character gave me everything in life; it's more than doing 100 roles. Though I have been in the industry for quite some time, Pani had to happen for people to recognise me. All credit goes to Joju Chettan and those two years of hard work. I'm proud that people still love me for that character. It is certainly the beginning every aspiring actor would dream of. Pani has been giving me pani (work) ever since," he says.
'I replay those videos every time I feel down'
Not every character earns you appreciation from Kamal Haasan, but Don Sebastian gained even that privilege for Sagar. "While we were filming, Joju Chettan used to update Kamal sir about the movie, and he loved the character. When sir mentioned us in an interview, it was surreal. Mani Ratnam's words, Karthik Subbaraj's comment, Prakash Raj's mention during the State Award announcement – all these are worth more than any award. Whenever I feel down or get confused in life, I replay all those videos. They push me and remind me that there is something in me that these legends saw," Sagar shared.
From Don to Punyalan
When Sagar's career graph was soaring with the villainy of Don Sebastian, and everyone thought he would mould himself into one of Mollywood's cold-blooded villains, the actor left everyone shocked by playing Punyalan, a full-on humour character in Prakambanam! "After Pani, expectations have gone so high. I am still not sure whether that's positive or whether I should be anxious about it. I wanted to make sure that my next character was different from Don. Initially, I was offered a different character, and I turned it down. Later, when Punyalan came to me, I was sure I could do it. I had shared the screen with legends like KPAC Lalitha and Manju Pillai in Thatteem Muteem, so I knew comedy was my strong point. I didn't want to limit myself to being a villain after Pani, and Prakambanam was the best way to break that image. Even Don fans liked Punyalan; the character had a lot to perform, and I enjoyed every bit of it," he said.
'I didn't even have 500 rupees in my pocket'
Even when the world around him is clapping and cheering now, Sagar emphasised that it was never an easy road. "I started pursuing my dream of cinema after graduation. When my friends were earning six figures, I didn't even have 500 rupees in my pocket. But my family stood by me and encouraged me to follow my passion. Looking at where I have reached now, I am very proud of my journey, but I am also aware that if I want to stay here, I have to keep pushing myself. It's hard to impress a Malayali as an actor; it's even harder to maintain that impression. I was an introvert who learned by correcting his mistakes and flaws. Every skill that I have mastered came through practice and hard work. Now I am happy; every struggle has turned into happiness," the actor said.
'TV is never a hindrance if you are truly passionate about cinema'
There is a belief in the industry that once you become a TV actor, you should give up your dream of entering cinema. In Sagar's case, it was the other way round. It was his character Aadhi in Thatteem Muteem that brought him his first film, Upacharapoorvam Gunda Jayan. Even the story behind his casting in Pani has a Bigg Boss connection. "TV has been my stepping stone into acting. It is Thatteem Muteem director Manoj who moulded me into a fine actor. If you are truly passionate about cinema, pursue it; being a TV actor is never a drawback. Be ready to work hard, and yes, you need a bit of luck too. It was that luck that worked for me in Bigg Boss. Joju Chettan saw one of my clips from Bigg Boss and cast me in Pani. Cinema is unpredictable; you never know when it will favour you. Work hard, never stop, and if cinema is meant for you, it will find you, whether you are a serial set or inside the Bigg Boss house," Sagar concluded.
