After being inactive for a long time, actor Arvind Swami has now had two releases in just a month as the enjoys the recent success of his film, Meiyazhagan with Karthi. While talking candidly, Swami shared a deeply personal story about a serious spinal injury that left him bedridden for years in an interview with Gulf News. The actor opened up about the challenging period in his life, during which he had no intention of returning to films.
Swami revealed that after stepping away from acting for 13 years, a life-changing offer from director Mani Ratnam inspired his comeback. He described this return to acting as a personal challenge, especially in the face of doubts about his ability to perform after such a long break. Between his cameo in Alaipayuthey and his role in Kadal, Swami endured a painful journey, including a spinal injury that caused partial paralysis in one of his legs.
Reflecting on that difficult time, Swami spoke about the constant pain he faced. Simple tasks like getting out of bed and walking to the shower became agonizing. “From the time I got from my bed to the shower, I would be in extreme pain and have to sit down three or four times. You realize how much you take for granted, like getting up and moving freely,” he shared, emphasizing the new perspective the experience gave him.
The actor also talked about the physical and emotional struggles of his recovery, describing the daily pain he endured. He reflected on the impact it had on his life, acknowledging how the injury changed his outlook on even the simplest of actions.
In addition to Meiyazhagan, Swami recently appeared in a supporting role in Anubhav Sinha’s Netflix series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack.