Suriya in a still from ‘Vaaranam Aayiram’
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Suriya might today be one of the most popular Tamil actors around, earning crores of rupees. But did you know that his first salary was a mere ₹736?
That money was earned due to his work in a garment factory, where he toiled long before he plunged into acting. The hours were long; it involved him working more than 18 hours a day.
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He recalled this phase of his life in an interview with The Hindu before the release of 2020’s Soorarai Pottru. “We all go through this phase once we turn 18, when we start thinking about our future. I did not want to follow my father’s [actor Sivakumar] footsteps in the film industry. I got a job in a garment factory, with my first month’s salary being ₹736, which I got after 18 hours of work every day. I still remember the weight of the white envelope that had that money,” he nostalgically stated.
Actor Suriya with his father Sivakumar
| Photo Credit:
The Hindu Archives
Today, Suriya is well known among admirers for his hard work and sincerity, two qualities that have appealed to many of his fans. Even as he awaits the release of upcoming film Karuppu, directed by Balaji, Suriya’s penchant to learn and master things that he did not know has made him one of the biggest stars of Tamil cinema.
In Pictures: Celebrating actor Suriya on his 50th birthday
Suriya with his father Sivakumar.
Suriya in July 2002
Suriya and Jyotika in a still from ‘Uyirilae Kalandhadhu’
Actress Jothika and actor Suriya during ‘Take two’ chat session, at AVM studios in Chennai on May 03, 2004.
Suriya, Vijay and Ramesh Kanna in a still from ‘Friends’
Suriya and Jyotika during the promotions of ‘Perazhagan’ in 2004
Suriya and Trisha in a still from 2002’s ‘Mounam Pesiyadhe’
Tamil film actor Surya posing for a photograph session at his residence in T.Nagar, Chennai, on May 21, 2004.
Actors Suriya and Kamal Hassan in Chennai, 01-05-2004
Suriya, Sangeetha and Vikram in a still from ‘Pithamagan’
Actor Suriya in 2006
Actor Suriya and director Gautham Menon at E-Mail chat in Chennai, July 25, 2003.
Actor Surya in the Tamil film “Kaakha Kaakha”.
Actor Surya at the inaugural of the Tamil film “Sachin” in Chennai on December 8, 2004. The film has Vijay in the lead role with Jhoan as director and is produced by Kalaipuli
S.Thanu.
Photo: K.V. Srinivasan
STILL: TAMIL MOVIE: Surya and Jyotika in “Perazhagan”
Actors Suriya, Manobala (left) and Karunas (right) in the Tamil film ‘Pithamagan’.
Surya in a still from ‘Maayavi’
Actor Surya and actor Karthi at the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the movie `Sivaji’ held in Chennai on January 11, 2008.
Actor Surya (ext right) with actor Ajith and his wife actress Shalini at the marriage of his (Surya) sister, Brindha, in Chennai on November 13, 2005.
Suriya and Jyotika at the audio launch of ‘Pasanga 2’ in Chennai, on September 17, 2015.
Hollywood actor Arnold Schwarzenegger with actor Suriya at a gym in Chennai on September 16, 2014.
Suryia (right) and Mahesh Bhupathi in action at the Aircel Chennai Open 2010 tennis championship in Chennai on January 04, 2010.
Actors Suriya and Karthi during a promotion for “Dope” clothing range in Coimbatore on November 19, 2009.
Actors Suriya and Karthi during a promotion for “Dope” clothing range in Coimbatore on November 19, 2009. Photo: K. Ananthan
Suriya in a still from ‘Singam’
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This is evident not just now, but also way back in 2003, when, in a conversation with his father, actor Sivakumar, to The Hindu, he remarked, “Before coming into the field, I did not realise how hard you would have toiled to make it big. Only now do I know what it is like to act in public places. I am also learning how to react to public comments and how to overcome difficulties.”
Published – July 23, 2025 07:48 am IST
