Demon Slayer Star Takahiro Sakurai Reveals He’s a Huge Rajinikanth Fan

Demon Slayer has undeniably become a highly popular and impactful anime series in recent times. The manga’s Infinity Castle arc is now being adapted for the big screen as a trilogy of films. The first part has already achieved record-breaking success in Japan and Europe and is now scheduled for release in India. Ahead of the film’s release, the popular voice actor Takahiro Sakurai shared his thoughts with Hindustan Times, discussing the excitement around the project, his character, and his fondness for Indian cinema.

Upon its release in July, Infinity Castle Part 1 achieved huge success in Japan, setting new records for the biggest opening and single-day collection. It has  also become the third-highest-grossing film in the country. Takahiro Sakurai expressed his hope that the international audience will embrace the film with similar enthusiasm. He said, “I am just very excited for all the international fans to see this film. I went to France for the promotions, and I saw the French fans being so excited before the film came out. I was touched by that excitement the non-Japanese fans have. I feel that fans will connect with this and my character a lot more once they have finished watching this. So, I cannot wait for them to see this.”

The Demon Slayer franchise, while deeply connected to Japanese folklore and culture, has also achieved massive international success. Takahiro said, “There is something within the Japanese craftsmanship that brings people outside of Japan together. I believe that the Japanese are really good at reproducing pretty much from all over the world, while keeping the ‘Japaneseness’ very much there. It’s about creating something that would be relevant somewhere else. It’s not just about anime, but also other works in Japan. This is probably what draws everyone to Demon Slayer, be it the fans in France or Singapore, or even in India.” 

When it comes to Indian stars, Takahiro Sakurai admitted being a big fan of Rajinikanth. On being asked whether he would ever dub for him, he answered, “I don’t think I will be able to. He has a very solid presence and a deep voice. I don’t think my voice will suit him. I would love to know actors from India whom my voice could suit.” On being asked about his favourite Indian films, he talked about Muthu, RRR, and Baahubali being the ones he genuinely loved.

Also Read: Rajinikanth’s Coolie Heats Up With Powerhouse Single