As a child, Jai remembers watching television open-mouthed every time it showed race cars zipping by. He loved toy cars and played with them all the time. At 10, he was introduced to F1 races, again on telly. At 16, he got to test drive a real car, the family’s Maruti Zen. That’s when he figured out his childhood love had turned into a passion. His first car, a Ford Fiesta, bought after Subramaniapuram , added fuel to the passion.
Today, at 29, he’s living his dream, in reel and for real. Besides the fact that his recent films, including Vadacurry , have done well and he’s a much-in-demand actor, he drives for Team Rad Racing, and last week, took part in the Indian Junior Touring Car (IJTC) category at the FMSCI-MMSC national racing championship, in Coimbatore. “I’m in a good place right now,” says Jai, whose long-delayed Thirumanam Ennum Nikah with Nazriya Nazim has just released. “I’m doing the kind of movies I am comfortable working in, and I’m living my dream on the track,” he says. “At times, I did wonder if I could strike a balance between acting and racing. But, seeing Ajith Sir do that was a huge inspiration,” he says. He’s taking things slowly, though. “I do know the kind of investment people have made in my films, and I am very careful about how I drive,” he says.
How easy it is for him to turn a student again after all these years? “Since it’s something I love, I happily do it. And, touchwood, I’m yet to get scolded by Radha Selvarajan, my team principal,” he laughs.
Making time for racing has ensured Jai shoots double shifts through the week so that Sunday can be spent on the track. “It has meant no rest, but I hope to take a break in December after the racing season,” he says. The actor has high hopes from Thirumanam… , which he says, “the family audience” will love. “It has romance and nice comedy. It’s not fast-paced, and we’ve tried our best to ensure that we portray both religions in the correct light.”
He’s delighted with the response to Vadacurry , which he says, did business equal to twice its budget. Up next are three films — Valiyavan with M. Saravnan of EngeyumEppothum fame; a film with Manimaran, who did a neat job with Udhayam NH4 , and another with Vadacurry’s Saravana Rajan. “I’m comfortable working with people I know. I told M. Saravanan that he gave me a soft image with Engeyum and now has to give me an image makeover. Our new film is all action,” he says. So, is the ‘shy boy’ of Tamil cinema like that in real life too? “Yes,” he smiles. “Like my character in Engeyum , I don’t look at girls or drink coffee or tea. All the people I’m working with are those I’ve known for at least two years. I can’t be part of a film if I’m not comfortable on the sets. You know, that’s what contributes 70 per cent to a film’s success; the rest is just 30 per cent. Without chemistry, nothing will work.”