Vijay wanted to take a selfie in Sivaji's room: Prabhu Ganesan

Fans watching the first day shows of Theri were in for quite a surprise when they glimpsed a familiar building on screen often — an iconic spot that’s held pride of place in Kollywood folklore down the years — Sivaji Annai Illam!

Indeed, Sivaji Ganesan’s ancestral home appears many times during the course of Vijay’s recent offering, and it’s no surprise that Prabhu (who also plays an important role in the flick) is thrilled about it. “Thanu is a very dear friend of mine, and when he wanted to can a few scenes inside my home, I couldn’t say no. The house has been the backdrop for many movies in the past too — and it was my pleasure to host the Theri team for a few days!” the veteran actor tells us.
In fact, thanks to his ‘foodie’ image, Prabhu is often obliged to offer guests the household’s famous cuisine, that has been renowned since his dad’s time.

“From Rajini and Kamal, to Ajith and Vijay, to youngsters like Sivakarthikeyan and STR, everyone has dined at my house. In fact, many actors even call and request if they may drop in for a meal,” Prabhu quips. “Vijay was no different during the Theri shoot — he thoroughly enjoyed the food, and in fact, shared an amusing moment with me, while he was leaving. He came quietly to me and in the most humble of ways, requested if he could go to my dad, Sivaji’s room and take a selfie there!” he laughs.

Prabhu goes on, “Vijay said he also wanted to spend some time sitting in the room, where Sivaji Ganesan had lived — I replied that he didn’t even need to ask me this! It was such a fantastic experience working with him and Atlee, and I’m thrilled that the film has opened to such positive reviews.”