Geraldine Viswanathan’s path to Thunderbolts didn’t start with a blockbuster audition or a lifelong dream to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It began with oddball comedy gigs, local theatre, and stand-up sets at uni bars. From small parts in quirky Australian productions to sharing the screen with John Cena in Blockers, Viswanathan quietly built her Hollywood résumé until Marvel called.
When the offer for Thunderbolts came, she wasn’t gunning for the spotlight. In fact, she got the call while sick in bed. Director Jake Schreier pitched her the role of Mel, a sharp, loyal assistant to Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s scheming Valentina Fontaine. It was a role vacated by Ayo Edebiri, and Viswanathan stepped in with zero superhero baggage.
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Mel doesn’t shoot lasers or fly, but she holds her own in a cast of enhanced misfits. Always at Val’s side, iPad in hand, Mel becomes more than just an assistant. As Val’s ambitions spiral, Mel starts questioning everything, including her ethics, her boss, and what kind of power she wants to stand behind. Her quiet presence becomes one of the film’s most grounded forces, showing that not all heroes need powers to shift a story’s course.
Geraldine Viswanathan actress steps into the MCU spotlight with major fan buzzGetty Images
Viswanathan, now 29, isn’t pretending to be an overnight sensation. She jokes about bad fashion choices in her early career and remembers emailing her former triple j mentor with a casual, “I think I have to go shoot a movie with John Cena.” That movie, Blockers, changed everything. So did her spot in this unconventional Marvel film.
Thunderbolts isn’t just another superhero showdown. It’s Marvel trying something new with fewer explosions and more soul. Director Schreier brings a style that digs into mental health and trauma without turning it into a TED Talk. Florence Pugh’s Yelena gets one of the most honest emotional arcs Marvel has done, and the film dares to ask: what happens when the “team” doesn’t even like each other?
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There’s pain, banter, regret, and reluctant healing. And in the middle of it is Mel, loyal but torn, sharp but unsure played by Viswanathan with the kind of subtlety that stands out in a world of CGI-heavy action.
No, she’s not flying. But Geraldine Viswanathan’s leap into Marvel might just be one of its most human moves yet.
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Big B defends his choice to praise Abhishek openly and others privately
Amitabh Bachchan reveals why he praises Abhishek publicly but not Jaya or Aishwarya
Quick highlights:
Amitabh Bachchan has responded to online comments asking why he often praises son Abhishek Bachchan on social media but not wife Jaya Bachchan, daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai, or daughter Shweta. The actor explained that while he chooses to support Abhishek publicly, he honours the women in his family privately, saying he prefers to respect them “in his heart.”
Bachchan defends Abhishek praise, addresses fan remarks online
The 81-year-old actor, who regularly shares photos and thoughts with fans, recently posted images of himself meeting admirers outside his Mumbai home, Jalsa. Captioned “Yes, I praise Abhishek. So?”, the post sparked comments from users questioning why he doesn’t do the same for Jaya, Aishwarya, or Shweta.
Responding directly, Bachchan wrote, “Yes, I shall praise them in my heart… not publicly… respect for the ladies.” His reply quickly circulated across platforms, with many praising his thoughtful answer. Others pointed to his tendency to engage more often when defending Abhishek, especially around film releases.
Bachchan also shut down a user accusing him of having “paid fans,” bluntly replying, “Prove it! You are small-minded… why don’t you pay and get fans too?” When another person mocked those waiting outside his home as “unemployed,” he replied with characteristic wit: “So give them a job? When they stand at the gate of Jalsa, they are EMPLOYED in love.”
Actor remains active on social media while juggling film projects
Bachchan has become increasingly interactive online in recent years, often directly responding to criticism and fan feedback. Meanwhile, Abhishek was last seen in Housefull 5, a multi-starrer comedy that released earlier this month. Jaya Bachchan appeared in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani in 2023, while Aishwarya Rai was part of Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan films. Despite the online chatter, Amitabh continues to walk his own path, on-screen and online.