Rishikanth and Naslen: A collaboration that you probably didn’t know about

Actor Rishikanth during a recent visit to ‘The Hindu’ office in Chennai on November 3, 2026; Naslen in a still from ‘Scene’

Tamil actor Rishikanth is the talk of the town at the moment. After delivering two successive hits, Modha Rathri and Dorothy, Rishikanth has become an internet sensation, with a growing fanbase that is already eager to watch what the actor will do next. The moniker the internet generation has bestowed on Rishikanth is ‘Thanjavur Jesus,’ a name denoting his hometown and his Jesus-like bearded, lean appearance.

Meanwhile, Naslen has been one of the most in-demand Malayalam stars. Over the years, the actor has gained a cult following, especially after the success of his rom-com, Premalu. And now, last week, Naslen made a stellar foray into Tamil cinema with Scene, the Suriya-starrer that has received rave reviews from audiences and critics. And it just so happens that the internet had to find a moniker for Naslen as well; social media now calls him the ‘Thrissur Timothee,’ drawing a parallel to the Hollywood star Timothee Chalamet.

Now, did you know that this ‘Thrissur Timothee’ and ‘Thanjavur Jesus’ have a previous connection? Yes. Rishikanth and Naslen, the stars who are the talk of the town now, once starred together in a Malayalam movie. Director Sudhi Maddison’s 2023 Malayalam comedy, Neymar, featured Naslen in a lead role, while Rishikanth was seen in a supporting role.

The internet was quick to make the connection, with frames of the two together going viral on X.

Beyond its pop-culture value, the moment also speaks of the long journey both Naslen and Rishikanth undertook to reach the stardom they now seem to enjoy. In an exclusive interview with The Hindu, Rishikanth, when asked about how he is processing all the love he has been receiving of late, said, “In my 15 years in cinema, I have felt lonely many times, but during these last two months, I have felt that I have a huge family [of audiences] out there. They saw me as one of their own. Many of them told me my win felt personal to them. I see that as a blessing. I’ll be careful to not break that trust.”

Tamil cinema / Indian cinema / Malayalam cinema