During the audio launch of Petta yesterday, Karthik Subbaraj talked about how the movie came to be.

He said, “I’ve been a huge fan of Rajini Sir ever since I was a kid. All I ever wanted from him was a few appreciative words about my story. When Pizza was released, he called me and said really good things about the movie. And then he personally invited me to appreciate what I had done in Jigarthanda. When I narrated Petta’s story to him soon after, he said we shall do the movie, but I was a little apprehensive since he had just announced his entry into politics.”

He also muses how a man of his stature who is not only appreciated in Tamilnadu but has received national acclaim, doesn’t really need to be appreciative of growing people in the industry, but he never fails to do so. Like it was mentioned in his movie 2.0, he has a positive aura surrounding him that he spreads wherever he goes, Karthik says.

“I would feel jealous if anyone talked to him on the sets more than I did, which includes my wife. Even if I had received an Oscar award, it wouldn’t have come close to the feeling of working with the superstar,” he adds.