Suriya might today be one of the most popular Tamil actors around, earning crores of rupees. But did you know that his first salary was a mere ₹736?
That money was earned due to his work in a garment factory, where he toiled long before he plunged into acting. The hours were long; it involved him working more than 18 hours a day.
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He recalled this phase of his life in an interview with The Hindu before the release of 2020’s Soorarai Pottru. “We all go through this phase once we turn 18, when we start thinking about our future. I did not want to follow my father’s [actor Sivakumar] footsteps in the film industry. I got a job in a garment factory, with my first month’s salary being ₹736, which I got after 18 hours of work every day. I still remember the weight of the white envelope that had that money,” he nostalgically stated.
Actor Suriya with his father Sivakumar | Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives
Today, Suriya is well known among admirers for his hard work and sincerity, two qualities that have appealed to many of his fans. Even as he awaits the release of upcoming film Karuppu, directed by Balaji, Suriya’s penchant to learn and master things that he did not know has made him one of the biggest stars of Tamil cinema.
In Pictures: Celebrating actor Suriya on his 50th birthday1/3
This is evident not just now, but also way back in 2003, when, in a conversation with his father, actor Sivakumar, to The Hindu, he remarked, “Before coming into the field, I did not realise how hard you would have toiled to make it big. Only now do I know what it is like to act in public places. I am also learning how to react to public comments and how to overcome difficulties.”
