Singaporean Magesh Das, known as a national bodybuilding champion and a top-ranked insurance agent, is boldly stepping into uncharted territory – Tamil cinema.
On July 18, his dream will hit the big screen in India, Singapore and Malaysia with the release of his debut Tamil film Chennai Files, in which he stars as a menacing antagonist.
Born and raised in Singapore, Magesh grew up watching Tamil action films, dreaming secretly of being part of that world. But, like many childhood ambitions, it was buried under the expectations of practical career choices.
“When I was nine, my teacher asked what I wanted to be – I said an actor. She told me, ‘Don’t dream like that. Be an engineer or lawyer instead.’ So I buried it,” he recalls.
Years rolled on. Magesh excelled in academics – with an engineering degree from Nanyang Technological University, carved out a 21-year career at Great Eastern insurance company, built the F17 football academy whose ambassador was Fandi Ahmad and even clinched the national bodybuilding championship title last year at age 46. But when Covid-19 lockdowns hit, an old spark reignited.
“With so much time at home, I found myself watching films again – and I noticed Indian cinema had great heroes, but the villains had lost their edge. I thought: maybe my physique and passion could fill that gap,” he said.
Unlike most dreamers, Magesh approached his passion strategically. For two years, he dissected how the Tamil film industry works – from production to promotion.
He then met Anish Ashraf, a former assistant to blockbuster director A.R. Murugadoss, who agreed to test Magesh’s screen presence.
Together, they made a short film, Blood, which won encouraging feedback online. It cemented Magesh’s belief that his idea wasn’t wishful thinking but a genuine business opportunity.
“When Ashraf showed me his old thriller script, I knew this was my shot. I launched Sinnathamby Productions, named after my grandfather, and we got to work,” Magesh says.
Pre-production for Chennai Files began in early 2023. Filming kicked off in April and wrapped up in just 42 days across Chennai and Puducherry. The cast includes respected names like Vetri, Thambi Ramaiyah, Redin Kingsley and Shilpa Manjunath.
But the real challenge came post-production. The film industry hit a slump in 2024 – no distributors were ready to back a first-time producer with no big studio ties.
Undeterred, Magesh decided to self-release. “This is a $700,000 personal investment. Yes, I could have bought a private property – but I didn’t want to be 80 and wonder ‘what if’. I’ll always earn back the money, but not the chance.”
In Chennai Files, Magesh’s character is no cartoonish villain. It’s a role demanding grit, nuance and physical presence – traits he’s honed over decades on bodybuilding stages and business negotiation tables.
“I wanted to bring back the kind of memorable antagonist we saw in classics, someone who genuinely challenges the hero and drives the story forward,” he explains.
Despite being a newcomer, he did his own stunts, trained under fight masters, and even broke a rib during an intense sequence. He also hired a Russian vocal coach and a personal acting tutor to ensure he delivers a performance worthy of the silver screen.
Far from chasing fame alone, Magesh treats cinema as an extension of his business acumen. He has a clear plan: build Chennai Files into a franchise, take on select villain roles across South Indian cinema, and continue producing thrillers that combine high-octane plots with thought-provoking messages.
“I’ve got four offers on my table, and ten bound scripts at home. But I’m waiting for this film’s release. The audience will tell me how they see me – and then I’ll choose wisely,” he says.
Magesh, a single father of two boys – one of whom plays football in Spain – continues to juggle his insurance career with his newfound film journey.
“I’m among the top 0.1 per cent agents in Singapore. Acting won’t change that. I plan my shoots carefully: 10 to 12 days on set, then I’m back to my clients and businesses,” he says matter-of-factly.
Looking back, he credits his relentless discipline – the same that built his championship physique – for this latest pivot. “People think dreams and business are separate. For me, they feed each other. You need vision, guts and execution for both,” he says.
When Chennai Files hits theatres in Singapore, Malaysia, and India on July 18, Magesh will be watching not as a bodybuilder, insurance veteran or corporate leader – but as a boy who once dared to defy his teacher’s words and write his own script.
“I wanted to be an actor at nine. It took decades, but here I am. If my villain terrifies you, then I’ve done my job,” he says with a grin.
