Vijay, who played a triple role in his 2017 action film Mersal, won the Best International Actor Award by the UK-based International Achievement Recognition Awards (IARA) on Tuesday.
The actor was nominated under two categories: Best International Actor and Best Actor. He was addressed as a, ‘multi talented actor and playback singer’.
International Achievement Recognition Awards (IARA), founded in 2014, awards artistes worldwide and recognises people who have excelled within their industries. Artistes are nominated under 24 different categories, under fields like drama, cinema, music, television and others.
IARA BEST INTERNATIONAL ACTOR 2018
Vijay Joseph is a multi talented actor and playback singer. He is referred to by the media as Thalapathy (commander). #IARA #IARA2018 #IARAAWARDS #IARAAWARDS2018 #iarabestinternationalactor#Vijay #actorvijay #vijayjoseph #thalapathy pic.twitter.com/BcL2EmWPM4— IARA AWARDS (@IARA_Awards) December 12, 2018
Among an impressive list of nominees under Best International Actor, including Joshua Jackson (Children of a Lesser God), Kenneth Okolie (The Royal Hibiscus Hotel), Adjetey Anang (Side Chick Gang), Khumbulani Kay Sabiya (Agent) and Taim Hasan (El Heba El Awda), Vijay won the award. In 2017, Nigerian actor OC Ukeje won the same award for his performance in The Arbitration.
Under the Best Actor category Vijay was nominated with David Tennant (Don Juan in Soho), John Boyega (Star Wars:The Last Jedi), Chris Attoh (Swing), Jack Perry Jones (Bang), Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out), Zack Morris (Eastenders), and Jamie Lomas (Hollyoaks).
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IARA is not the only international award bagged by director Atlee’s Mersal. It won the Best Foreign Language Film at the 4th edition of the National Film Awards UK 2018 in April.
Starring Nithya Menen, Samantha Akkineni and Kajal Aggarwal as female leads, the film also featured Sathyaraj, S. J. Surya, Vadivelu and others in supporting roles. Produced by Thenandal Studios Limited, the film was 2017’s Diwali release, and like Sarkar, it was mired in controversy. BJP objected to the scenes in which GST and Digital India were shown in bad light. People from the medical industry took offence to the portrayal of their profession.
Vijay is currently working on Thalapathy 63, directed by Atlee. It stars Nayanthara as the female lead, and is produced by Archana Kalpathi under AGS Entertainment.