When Mahesh Babu spilled beans that he and Thalapathy Vijay were the first choice for Ponniyin Selvan

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As a lifestyle expert with a keen interest in cinema, I must confess that the story behind Ponniyin Selvan is as captivating as the epic itself. Having followed the film industry for decades, I can’t help but marvel at the serendipity of events that led to this magnificent production.

Did you realize that the epic film Ponniyin Selvan, masterfully directed by Mani Ratnam, was divided into two parts released in 2022 and 2023? Interestingly, the director originally envisioned action stars Thalapathy Vijay and Mahesh Babu playing the leading roles.

Indeed, as far back as 2010, filmmaker Mani Ratnam began working on the project that would become Ponniyin Selvan. His ambition was to bring this dream production to life, and he had planned for Vijay and Mahesh Babu to assume the lead characters.

Despite both actors agreeing on the project and signing it, the project was ultimately put on hold by the director due to limited capabilities in graphics and VFX during that time. Additionally, there were significant financial hurdles that made producing the movie challenging at the time.

During an interview with Tamil magazine Vikatan while working on Spyder, Mahesh Babu revealed that he and Vijay had participated in a pre-production photoshoot for the movie in Chennai. This shoot took place 7 days before principal filming began, but unfortunately, it did not proceed as planned.

Furthermore, it’s worth noting that the celebrity in question has disclosed they maintain a friendly bond with Vijay to this day. Had their ambitious film collaboration proceeded as originally intended, the screenplay would have brought together two of India’s most prominent actors.

For over a decade, the film lay dormant, but in 2022 and 2023, it breathed new life as Ponniyin Selvan I and II. The movie boasts a talented cast including Chiyaan Vikram, Karthi, Jayam Ravi, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Trisha Krishnan, Jayaram, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Sobhita Dhulipala, Prakash Raj, Prabhu, R. Sarathkumar, and numerous others in pivotal roles.

The movie is adapted from a well-known novel with the same title, penned by Kalki Krishnamurthy. It narrates the story of Arunmozhi Varman, a prince from the Chola empire, who eventually became the celebrated emperor Rajaraja I, a significant figure in the history of Tamil Nadu, whose life is portrayed dramatically.

Originally, I had to hold off on producing my Mani Ratnam film due to the unforeseen challenges posed by the global Covid-19 pandemic. However, after some patience and perseverance, it graced our screens and was met with a wave of recognition, even earning numerous accolades. To add to that, it also became one of the top box office earners in its category. Quite an accomplishment, wouldn’t you agree?

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2024-08-06 15:22