‘I was paid three times his salary’: Jyotika recalls early career, praises Suriya as a ‘green flag’

Suriya and Jyothika, the most loved couple in Tollywood, first appeared together in ‘Poovellam Kettuppar’ in 1999. Their on-screen chemistry led to several successful collaborations, including ‘Uyirile Kalanthathu’, the crime thriller ‘Kaakha Kaakha’, ‘Perazhagan’, ‘Maayavi’ and ‘Sillunu Oru Kaadhal’.Suriya and Jyotika recently looked back on the early years of their careers during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India.During the conversation, Jyotika revealed that there was a phase in her career when she earned significantly more than Suriya. Looking back at those days, she recalled how successful she was as an actress while joking about how things have changed over the years.

Jyotika says she once earned three times more than Suriya

Jyotika said, “At that time, I was paid three times his salary,” before adding with a smile, “Now, it’s 30 times less,” leaving Suriya laughing.The ’36 Vayadhinile’ actress also praised Suriya for the way he has always treated her. She described him as a “green flag” and said that equality has always been an important part of their relationship.Speaking about Suriya, she said, “He’s remarkable as a man, as a husband, and as an actor, of course. There is an equality in his head, and I feel you have to be born with that. It has to be an inner feel. Otherwise, it doesn’t reflect.”According to Jyotika, Suriya’s attitude towards equality comes naturally and is reflected in the way he approaches both family life and relationships.

Jyotika says they are equals at home

The actor further explained that their marriage has never been shaped by traditional gender expectations. Instead, she said they have always believed in sharing responsibilities and respecting each other’s choices.She added, “You have to feel the woman with you. If she doesn’t want to cook, let it be. Those are things we have heard, right? I am not trying to be a feminist here. But we are equals at home. And it only comes out of a genuine, deep within feeling inside a man. Suriya has it in him.”

Sharing responsibilities together

Jyotika also offered a glimpse into their life away from the cameras. She revealed that the couple enjoys doing everyday activities together, whether it is cooking, parenting or working on films.She said, “If I ever am cooking, he steps into the kitchen and cooks with me. We do things together, from filmmaking to raising kids, and going on holidays. I think we just like to see each other grow.”

A journey from co-stars to life partners

Suriya and Jyotika’s final film together, ‘Sillunu Oru Kaadhal’, was released in 2006, just days before they tied the knot on September 11, 2006. Since then, they have remained one of South Indian cinema’s most celebrated couples.On the professional front, Suriya is now awaiting the release of his upcoming film, ‘Vishwanath & Sons’. Directed by Venky Atluri, the bilingual family drama is scheduled to arrive in theatres on August 14, 2026.