Siddhartha Reflects on Successful 2025, Embracing Industry Grind

2025 has been a busy and successful year for actor Siddhartha Shankar. The rising star made his Hindi debut with Param Sundari and also appeared in the Tamil films Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam (NEEK) and Madharaasi, all of which were released this year.

Siddhartha reflects on his experiences, noting that he puts in the same amount of work for every film, and is pleased to see that his persistence has paid off with three successful releases in 2025. He describes NEEK as feeling like a "campus reunion," working with director Dhanush, whom he calls the "cool teacher." Dhanush encouraged Siddhartha to portray a rich character in a more nuanced way, rather than the typical unkind depiction.

Praising his co-stars Janhvi Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra in Param Sundari, Siddhartha says they never made him feel small and instead made him feel welcomed and important, which translated to their on-screen chemistry. Sid even shared valuable tips with the rising actor.

Siddhartha was also struck by director AR Murugadoss's energy and involvement on the set of Madharaasi, and was inspired by his co-star Sivakarthikeyan's dedication to fully embodying his character.

Now, Siddhartha feels ready to take on leading man roles, having amassed enough experience through his previous films. He has learned to embrace the grind that comes with the job, understanding that opportunities don't come by every day, but when they do, one must be prepared.