Vijay Sethupathi: Yogi Babu is the other hero of Ace

Vijay Sethupathi took to the stage prior to the release of Ace and heaped praise on his co-stars Yogi Babu, Rukmini Vasanth and director Aarumugakumar.

During a press meet held on Saturday, he shared how the director held faith in him and lead him into a successful journey in the industry. He recalled, "When I was first looking for opportunities in cinema, during the time of Varnam—which also marked C Prem Kumar’s debut as a cinematographer—I visited Raju sir’s office to submit my photo. It was only during the audition process that I realized I could write dialogues for my own scenes."

Vijay Sethupathi said that he is indebted and grateful to Aarumugakumar for strongly recommending him to director Raju Sivasankaran for the film. "Even in Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom, I wasn’t initially considered for the lead role. Once again, it was Arumugakumar who pushed for me. Prem sir later told me about his recommendation. When someone places their trust in you—especially when they don’t know you well—it’s like lighting a lamp in a dark house.

He also congratulated Rukmini for her debut in Tamil and for her investment in the character and performance. "I don't know whether she's a blank page or an unreadable book—her expressions are impossible to predict. But she’s an extremely dedicated and perceptive artist. She understands her scenes thoroughly and puts in the work. She’s so sincere that she even researches the locations we shoot in. Her ability to both prepare and adapt is admirable," he said.

While speaking about Yogi Babu, he mentioned that he is another hero of Ace and shared his admiration for the actor's comedic timing and performance. "He’s a fascinating performer. Every time we work together, I’m amazed by how quickly he comes up with spontaneous counters and comic timing. He even improvises during dubbing. His expressions are unmatched. He has a few ideas for directing too. He never wastes time—every conversation with him has depth and purpose," he added.

Quashing rumours about his character floating around on media and in the internet, Vijay Sethupathi clarified stating that Yogi Babu has a "heart of gold".

Ace also stars Divya Pillai, Babloo Prithveeraj, BS Avinash, Muthu Kumar, Raj Kumar, Denes Kumar, Alvin Martin, Priscilla Nair, Jasper Supayah, Kaarthick Jay, Nagulan, and Zahrinaris. 

Ace is Arumugakumar's sophomore after his debut with Oru Nalla Naal Paathu Solren (2018). The filmmaker is also producing the film under his banner, 7CS Entertainment. Touted to be an out-and-out commercial entertainer, the film, which has been shot extensively in Malaysia, is expected to have a blend of romance, action, comedy, and sentiment in its story.

On the technical team, Ace has music composed by Justin Prabhakaran, cinematography by Karan Bahadur Rawat, and editing by Fenny Oliver. Ace is gearing up to hit theatres on May 23.