Looking back at one of the most talked-about collaborations in South Indian cinema, the coming together of Tamil superstar Vijay and Malayalam icon Mohanlal in ‘Jilla’ was not just about star power, but also mutual respect. Released at a time when both actors were commanding massive fan followings, the film offered a rare glimpse into the humility behind the stardom.

During the making of ‘Jilla’, Vijay reportedly made a heartfelt request to director R.T. Neason that spoke volumes about his values. Despite being the leading star in Tamil cinema at the time, Vijay requested that Mohanlal’s name be displayed before his own on the film’s title card, prioritising seniority and experience over stardom.

Mohanlal’s counter requestInterestingly, Mohanlal, known for his humility despite decades of success, suggested the opposite. The veteran actor felt Vijay’s name should appear first, given that ‘Jilla’ was a Tamil-language film and Vijay its primary box-office draw. However, Vijay stood firm on his decision, unwilling to compromise on what he believed was the right thing to do.

A decision that spoke louder than creditsEventually, the makers went ahead with Mohanlal’s name appearing first on the title card, followed by Vijay’s. The choice became a quiet yet powerful statement about mutual admiration, professionalism, and the respect that transcends language and regional boundaries.

Experience versus stardomAt the time of ‘Jilla’, Vijay had already completed over two decades in the film industry, while Mohanlal brought with him more than three decades of unparalleled experience across multiple languages. The title card moment subtly reflected this generational and professional dynamic.

Why the ‘Jilla’ story still resonatesBesides Vijay and Mohanlal, ‘Jilla’ featured an impressive supporting cast that included Mahat Raghavendra, Kajal Aggarwal, Nivedha Thomas, Soori, Sampath Raj and Pradeep Rawat; and subsequently earned itself a permanent place in cinema history as an incredible collaboration between two separate film industries. While many years have passed since this unique opportunity occurred, it serves as a powerful reminder of how much stronger shared values such as humility and respect can make one's legacy compared to that which can be achieved by merely being famous.