[1] His acting debut was a lead role in the film City of God directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery (2011) where he played one of the protagonists.
[2] In 2011, Pillai made his acting debut as the lead role in the film City of God, which was directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery.
Before making the debut in movies he had a successful run in all the major fashion weeks in India and did model for a few international brands as well.
[6] Pillai said in a 2016 interview there are no shortcuts to 'get fit quick', and encourages enthusiasts to take up mixed martial arts (MMA).
In the gym, he focuses on 45 minutes to 2 hours of weight training to keep his body fat content below 10 per cent.