Malavika Mohanan is set to share screen space with Vijay Sethupathi in Pocket Novel, marking their first on-screen collaboration despite having previously been part of Petta and Master. While the two actors have been associated with both films, they never had a scene together. Now, with Pocket Novel, Malavika and Vijay Sethupathi are finally coming together as co-stars, making this a long-awaited collaboration for both the actors and their audiences.
Speaking about finally sharing the screen with Vijay Sethupathi, Malavika said, “I’ve known him for years. He’s a very good family friend. Even though we had worked on two films together, we never got to perform together. I met him during the Master audio launch and success party, and whenever he came to Bombay, we’d invite him home. Now, whenever he’s in Mumbai, he comes home for lunch, spends time with my entire family, and sometimes even visits when I’m not around. That’s how close we’ve become. So, it really feels like this film was long due for us.” Malavika also spoke about what she admires about Vijay Sethupathi as an actor, describing him as a nuanced, calm, and disciplined performer. “He’s such a nuanced, calm but intense performer. It’s fascinating to watch his process and how he brings every character to life. He’s incredibly meticulous, structured in his approach, disciplined, and extremely helpful as a co-actor.” When asked whether she prefers Vijay Sethupathi as a hero or a villain, Malavika admitted that she is naturally partial to the person she knows off-screen. “I’m biased because I only see him as the good guy. In the film we’re currently shooting, he’s the good guy too, and I really like that. But I have to say, he plays a bad guy really well. He can be such a mean baddie on screen.”
While their association spans Petta, Master, and now Pocket Novel, this marks the first time audiences will get to witness Malavika Mohanan and Vijay Sethupathi share the screen together. Beyond their professional association, their close family friendship adds another layer of warmth to this long-awaited collaboration. With Pocket Novel among Malavika’s exciting upcoming projects, the actress also has Sardar 2 alongside Karthi in her lineup.