Mohanlal, one of Malayalam cinema’s biggest and most celebrated names, turns 64 today (May 21). The veteran actor, who began his career nearly four decades ago, enjoys a huge fan following because of his powerful performances and striking screen presence. While everyone knows about his unparalleled body of work, not many may be aware of the fact that he once turned down an offer to star in a Rajinikanth film.
‘Sivaji’ (2007) is widely regarded as one of Rajinikanth’s most popular films.. The action entertainer was directed by Shankar and marked his first collaboration with ‘Superstar’. The maverick filmmaker approached Mohanlal to play the antagonist opposite the mass hero in the film. ‘Lalettan’ expressed an interest in the role and had a discussion with Shankar about the same.
Things, however, did not go as planned and the Malayalam star refused to allocate bulk dates for ‘Sivaji’. In an interview with Rediff, a few years ago, the ‘Complete Actor’ revealed that he would have had to turn down several Malayalam movies to work on Rajinikanth’s film, something he did not want to do.
“Yes, Shankar met me and narrated the storyline. It was a negative character I found quite interesting, but they wanted many days from me spread over an entire year. It meant letting go of many of my Malayalam projects, which I didn’t want to. I want the good relationship I have in Kerala and Tamil Nadu to stay that way. It was a good villain’s role though,”her had said.
‘Sivaji’ eventually hit screens in 2007 and emerged as a blockbuster. The film featured Rajinikanth in the role of an engineer who strives for the public’s welfare only to face opposition from a business tycoon. Its cast included Shriya Saran, Suman, and Vivekh.
Coming back to Mohanlal, he will soon be seen in ‘Barroz’. The fantasy drama features the legend in a new avatar and marks his debut as a director. It is slated to hit screens on September 12. ‘Lalettan’ will also be seen in ‘L2’. The film is a follow-up to Lucifer. Additionally, Mohanlal is part of Vishnu Manchu’s highly ambitious film ‘Kannappa’.