![Rajinikanth wanted to play the role of Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar, the Chola kingdom's chancellor-treasurer who was known and respected for his valour.](https://img.etimg.com/thumb/msid-94053248,width-650,height-488,imgsize-70054,resizemode-75/rajinikanth-wanted-to-play-the-role-of-periya-pazhuvettaraiyar-the-chola-kingdoms-chancellor-treasurer-who-was-known-and-respected-for-his-valour-.jpg)
Everything superstar Rajinikanth touches turns to gold, but there was a time when famed directed Mani Ratnam refused him a part in his film.
The veteran actor recently revealed that when he expressed the desire to join the cast of the magnum opus 'Ponniyin Selvan: I', the film-maker denied his request.
During the trailer and audio launch of the highly-anticipated film on Tuesday, Rajini revealed that he was keen on playing the role of Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar, the Chola kingdom's chancellor-treasurer who was known and respected for his valour. But, The Times Of India reported that the director said this wasn't a role meant for a superstar as the screen presence is limited.
"When Mani Ratnam announced in 2019 that he has started the work for the film, I called and asked him to let me play the role of Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar. He outrightly said no and asked me if I wanted my fans to scold him. He also added that this is not the role of a superstar like you as the screen presence is very less," the superstar was quoted as saying at the event.
The Times Of India reported that the 71-year-old was still adamant to play the role, and Ratnam had to convince him to not take it up. "I still wanted to do it. He then convinced me that I have better movies to do and it was not required for me to do a small role even as a special appearance. This is what you call an excellent director. If it was anyone else, they would have agreed to my request. That's the reason he is Mani Ratnam," he was quoted as saying.
Before Ratnam announced the film in 2019, the duo had a candid chat about the idea of the movie. The film-maker had asked Rajini if he had read the 2500-page historical fiction, written by Kalki Krishnamurthy in Tamil. The 'Robot' actor laughed it off and said, "... there's no way I am reading it."
When he finally decided to read the novel, Rajinikanth realised he was late.
For the event, Rajini and Ratnam were accompanied by a special guest - Kamal Haasan.
Talking about his time filming the blockbuster 'Thalapathi', Rajini disclosed Haasan helped him outsmart Ratnam. After the Tamil star had a tough time getting a shot to the director's heart's content, he reached out to Haasan for tips which worked.
"Shooting was difficult. Every shot would require 12 or 13 takes and I was getting frustrated. The issue was I had stocked expressions which I would use in films. I had ready-made expressions for love, surprise, fear, doubt... When I used them, Mani Ratnam would not agree. He would say, 'You feel, feel...' In my mind, I would wonder what 'feel, feel...'. So, after a while, when I could no longer handle it, I called up Kamal Haasan and said that it was proving too difficult. Kamal laughed on the phone and said, 'I knew it. I too faced the same problem. I will give you a suggestion. When he asks you to do something, ask him to enact it and show. Then, sit and pretend to brood over it and then exactly replicate what he does and the shot will be okayed.'"
Saying this, Rajinikanth turned to Haasan, who was standing beside him on stage and said, 'Thank You Kamal', as Ratnam roared with laughter from the audience.
The veteran actor recently revealed that when he expressed the desire to join the cast of the magnum opus 'Ponniyin Selvan: I', the film-maker denied his request.
During the trailer and audio launch of the highly-anticipated film on Tuesday, Rajini revealed that he was keen on playing the role of Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar, the Chola kingdom's chancellor-treasurer who was known and respected for his valour. But, The Times Of India reported that the director said this wasn't a role meant for a superstar as the screen presence is limited.
"When Mani Ratnam announced in 2019 that he has started the work for the film, I called and asked him to let me play the role of Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar. He outrightly said no and asked me if I wanted my fans to scold him. He also added that this is not the role of a superstar like you as the screen presence is very less," the superstar was quoted as saying at the event.
The Times Of India reported that the 71-year-old was still adamant to play the role, and Ratnam had to convince him to not take it up. "I still wanted to do it. He then convinced me that I have better movies to do and it was not required for me to do a small role even as a special appearance. This is what you call an excellent director. If it was anyone else, they would have agreed to my request. That's the reason he is Mani Ratnam," he was quoted as saying.
Before Ratnam announced the film in 2019, the duo had a candid chat about the idea of the movie. The film-maker had asked Rajini if he had read the 2500-page historical fiction, written by Kalki Krishnamurthy in Tamil. The 'Robot' actor laughed it off and said, "... there's no way I am reading it."
When he finally decided to read the novel, Rajinikanth realised he was late.
For the event, Rajini and Ratnam were accompanied by a special guest - Kamal Haasan.
Talking about his time filming the blockbuster 'Thalapathi', Rajini disclosed Haasan helped him outsmart Ratnam. After the Tamil star had a tough time getting a shot to the director's heart's content, he reached out to Haasan for tips which worked.
"Shooting was difficult. Every shot would require 12 or 13 takes and I was getting frustrated. The issue was I had stocked expressions which I would use in films. I had ready-made expressions for love, surprise, fear, doubt... When I used them, Mani Ratnam would not agree. He would say, 'You feel, feel...' In my mind, I would wonder what 'feel, feel...'. So, after a while, when I could no longer handle it, I called up Kamal Haasan and said that it was proving too difficult. Kamal laughed on the phone and said, 'I knew it. I too faced the same problem. I will give you a suggestion. When he asks you to do something, ask him to enact it and show. Then, sit and pretend to brood over it and then exactly replicate what he does and the shot will be okayed.'"
Saying this, Rajinikanth turned to Haasan, who was standing beside him on stage and said, 'Thank You Kamal', as Ratnam roared with laughter from the audience.
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