In an exclusive conversation with Cinema Express, actor Sandeep Ravi Raj talked about his experience working on Jana Nayagan, his struggling days in the film industry, his admiration for Vijay and Vikram, and more. Sandeep said that director H Vinoth's associate, Mathi, called him for an opportunity to star in the film. The actor also revealed that he thought hundreds of thousands of artists would audition for it and that he would not get the part as a result.
H Vinoth told Sandeep Ravi Raj that he liked Sandeep's performance in the Malayalam action thriller RDX: Robert Dony Xavier and that he wanted the actor to elicit a sense of agitation among the audience the moment his character would appear onscreen. Vinoth asked Sandeep to do a scene where he had to bring an unsettling smile, and he did it, impressing the director and making the filmmaker hire him.
Subsequently, Sandeep Raj talked about his scene with Prakash Raj and Vijay for Jana Nayagan. "I was excited to meet Vijay sir as I had not seen him in person before. That was when he came clad in uniform. I had goosebumps when I saw him," Sandeep said.
Then, director Vinoth explained the shot to the cast, and after the filmmaker left, Vijay looked at Sandeep and told him, 'You did really well in RDX.' I was speechless at that moment and expressed my gratitude to Vijay sir. He told me, 'I meant it seriously. I had also called that director (RDX's
Nahas Hidhayath) and wished him.'"
Coming back to Jana Nayagan, the film has earned more than 171 crore from theatres worldwide, according to data from Sacnilk.