Working alongside Dhanush always featured on Shalini Pandey’s wish list. Little did the actor know that with Idli Kadai, she would get more than what she wished for. The Tamil drama, which released on October 1, sees Dhanush not only as her co-star, but also as the director. “I always wanted to work with Dhanush sir because he is an incredible artiste, but working under his direction was all the more exciting,” begins Pandey.

She remembers Dhanush meeting her in early 2024 and narrating the Tamil drama with a clarity that she rarely came across. On set too, it was the director’s clarity and conviction that stood out for the actor. “All I had to do was follow Dhanush sir’s instructions because he knows exactly the kind of expressions he wants from the character. So, it becomes easy for you as an actor,” she shares. Pandey observed another quality of the director. “He is hands-on with his actors. At no point will you feel alone on the set. He is there with you at every step.”