Meeting a star behind the hospital screen

Trainee doctor at Stanley Hospital is also a budding actor who made his Tamil film debut last year

V. Sethu Raman will play a psychiatric patient in his next film, set to hit the screens in September. Photo: V. Ganesan

Most patients to the department of cosmetology at Government Stanley Medical College Hospital in the mornings gape at one consultant, seemingly star-struck.

Meet V. Sethu Raman, a trainee doctor in dermato surgery at the department inside the Institute of Social Paediatrics of the hospital. The 29-year-old is also a budding Tamil actor who debuted in one of the lead roles in ‘Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya’.

‘Medicine was dream’

Speaking to

The Hindu on a busy Thursday morning, alongside patients and his chief, G.R. Ratnavel, professor and head of cosmetology, Sethu says that becoming a doctor was his dream.

“Acting has been my passion right from college days but my parents were determined to have me complete my postgraduation in medicine,” says the actor-doctor who hails from a family of medical practitioners.

Immediately after completing his MD from Annamalai University in Chidambaram, Cuddalore, in July 2012, Sethu was in front of the cameras in September, filming ‘Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya’, alongside his friend, comedy star Santhanam.

His decade-long friendship with Santhanam, who was also the producer of the movie, landed him the role, says Sethu.

“The film released in January 2013 and was well received. I started receiving offers from Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam filmmakers, but I decided to take it slow and approached Dr. Ratnavel who has been my mentor,” adds the actor who joined the department of cosmetology in April.

His next film, ‘Vaaliba Raja’, will hit the screens in September.

Ironically, Sethu plays a psychiatric patient in the movie.