At the pre-release event of Bison, actor Rajisha Vijayan spoke emotionally about her collaboration with director Mari Selvaraj and how the filmmaker has earned her deepest trust, both professionally and personally.
Rajisha, who first worked with Mari Selvaraj in Karnan, revealed that she was overjoyed when the director initially called her for the Dhanush starrer. “I was really happy when Mari sir called me for Karnan. I had become a fan of his work after watching Pariyerum Perumal, and it meant a lot that he trusted me with that role, especially since I hadn’t done any other Tamil films before,” she said.
However, the actor went on to share how she wasn’t cast in Mari’s next two films. “After Karnan, he made two more films but didn’t cast me in either. When I asked him why, he simply said none of the characters suited me. When you work with a director and share a good creative rhythm, you naturally want to keep collaborating with them,” she added.
That opportunity finally arrived with Bison. “One fine day, he called me again, though a bit hesitant, for a role in Bison. He wasn’t sure if I’d be open to playing an akka. I told him that whether it’s a mother, sister, or even a side character, I’d be happy to play whatever he envisioned for me,” she said. “Even after signing the film and attending workshops, I knew nothing about the story or my role. I went in with complete trust. I’ve worked on around 30 films, but I don’t think I’ve ever trusted a filmmaker as much as I trust Mari sir.”
The actor also shared a terrifying incident from the shoot. “For Karnan, I had learnt basic swimming for a scene. During Bison, Mari sir suddenly mentioned that there was a scene where I’d have to jump into the water. It had been nearly four years since Karnan, so I had actually forgotten how to swim, but I was still excited for the scene. I told him confidently that I could do it,” she recalled.
Rajisha went on to describe how things took a dangerous turn. “Anupama jumped in first, and I followed, but I started sinking deeper and deeper. I truly thought I was going to lose my life. Thankfully, the crew rescued me. When I finally caught my breath and looked around, I saw Mari sir in the water—he had jumped in fully clothed, with his shoes and sunglasses still on. There were five lifeguards on set and even Anupama nearby, but he was the first to jump in. That moment made me love and respect him even more, not just as a filmmaker but as a person,” she said.
Calling Bison one of the biggest projects in her career, Rajisha concluded, “This film is going to be an epic. It has kabaddi, romance, family, and socio-political elements, but there’s something beyond all that. Something we haven’t seen in Mari Selvaraj’s films so far.”
Helmed by Mari Selvaraj, Bison stars Dhruv Vikram, Anupama Parameshwaran, Rajisha Vijayan, Lal, Ameer, and Pasupathy in pivotal roles. The film is gearing up for release on October 17, during the Diwali weekend, where it will clash with Pradeep Ranganathan’s Dudeand Harish Kalyan’s Diesel.