'Faced insults at some temples, later I embraced Islam'; actor Jai reveals

Popular Tamil actor Jai has spoken openly about his decision to embrace Islam. The actor said he had earlier followed both Hinduism and Christianity, but faced experiences that left him insulted. Jai said he felt a sense of equality when he visited a mosque. He made the remarks in a recent interview with Galatta Plus.

“I started becoming interested in and following this faith from 2011 onwards. I had many Muslim friends. I had gone to Sabarimala wearing the mala and had also followed Christian practices. I followed all the gods, thinking everyone was okay. But at one point, I faced some insults in temples, unexpected situations that left me unsatisfied. Similar experiences continued to happen repeatedly. One day, I visited a mosque,” Jai said.

He explained that no one inside the mosque spoke to him or asked for photographs while he was standing in line for prayers.

“People spoke to me only after I came out. I felt there was equality there. Inside the mosque, God is greater than everything else. No matter how big a celebrity someone is, they are not treated as special. We are given space and time to pray. Nobody pushes us away. After I started following this faith, even my personal character began to change,” he added.