Actor Sananth spoke about the challenges of portraying a transgender role in Karthick Subbaraj's Dorothy. He also credited the director's trust in him for giving the confidence to take on a formidable role.
In an interview with Cinema Vikatan, Sananth opened up about the considerable responsibilty of playing a queer role. Sananth who plays Subbu in the film, wanted the audience to embrace the depiction of the role in all its authenticity. He added that he auditioned for the character alongside Rishikanth, who plays Karthi, and wanted to live up to the filmmaker's expectation. "Honestly, this character is a great blessing for me. I just wanted people to accept my transgender character with all its beauty," the actor said.
Sananth shared that preparing for Subbu involved a lot of effort. The actor also admitted that he was nervous while performing the role as the character was demanding, particularly because of the expectations surrounding his portrayal. In an earlier interview, he said that he spent time interacting with members of the transgender community and observing women. He was keen to live up to the director's trust in him, said the Dorothy actor.
Recalling his first-day-first-show experience, Sananth said that the viewers' emotional response turned into a sentimental moment for him. People approached him with hugs and handshakes, expressing how deeply the character had moved them. "If you ask me, the best tears in the world are the tears that fall on my hands and shoulders when people recognise my work," stated the actor conveying that the audiences' acceptance was deeply meaningful to him.
While Sananth has previously chosen different roles, the actor's role in Dorothy has gained great recognition. The actor began his career by appearing in short films before making his feature debut in Demonte Colony. He went on to feature in films like Jil Jung Juk and Petta. He has collaborated with Karthick Subbaraj in several films including Petta, Mercury, Mahaan and Dorothy.
Dorothy features Sananth, Rishikanth and Keerthy Suresh in pivotal roles. The film follows the story of two childhood friends, whose lives are changed after a woman's introduction, encourages them to rethink their choices. It explores themes of gender identity and the emotional complexities surrounding the societal prejudice.
