Dhanush, currently winning hearts with his brilliant performance in his latest release Raayan, once grabbed headlines when he openly addressed being subjected to body shaming and ridicule for his looks. The superstar faced harsh criticism in the early phase of his career, with crew members even comparing him to an auto-driver.

In a 2015 interaction with Vijay Sethupathi, Anirudh Ravichander, and Sathish, Dhanush revealed the extent of the ridicule he faced. While shooting for Kaadhal Konden, he recalled an incident where, when asked who the hero was, he pointed at someone else from the cast to avoid further insults. Upon discovering that he was the hero, everyone on set laughed at him. Dhanush shared that people on the sets often called him an auto-driver due to his looks, leading him to break down and cry for hours in his car.

“There is not even one person who has not trolled and body-shamed me,” Dhanush added, reflecting on his challenging journey.

Dhanush's latest film, Raayan, marks his 50^th film as an actor and his second directorial venture. Released on July 26, Raayan features an ensemble cast including SJ Suryah, Prakash Raj, Selvaraghavan, Sundeep Kishan, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Kalidas Jayaram, Dushara Vijayan, and Aparna Balamurali. The film is produced by Kalanithi Maran under the Sun Pictures banner.

Looking ahead, Dhanush will star in Kubera alongside Rashmika Mandanna and Nagarjuna, directed by Sekhar Kammula. Speculated to be set in Dharavi, Mumbai, the story reportedly features Dhanush as a homeless man who rises to become a mafia kingpin.

Additionally, Dhanush is set to portray veteran music composer Ilaiyaraaja in an upcoming biopic directed by Arun Matheswaran. This much-anticipated film is a joint production by Connekkt Media, PK Prime Production, and Mercuri Movies.

Dhanush's journey from being body-shamed to becoming a celebrated actor and director is truly inspirational, demonstrating his resilience and talent in the face of adversity.