Suriya ’s 'Ghajini' (2005) remains a cult classic in Tamil cinema, but did you know that the role was initially offered to R. Madhavan ? The film, directed by A.R. Murugadoss and co-starring Asin, was a massive success, yet its lead casting had an unexpected twist.

Madhavan’s reason for rejecting 'Ghajini'

According to Economic Times, Madhavan was the first choice for 'Ghajini,' but he turned it down as he was not convinced by the second half of the script. The actor later revealed in a conversation with Suriya that he didn’t feel connected to how the story unfolded. As a result, the role eventually went to Suriya, who delivered one of the most memorable performances of his career.


Suriya’s dedication to the role
Madhavan also recalled being deeply impressed by Suriya’s commitment to the role. He was particularly stunned to learn that Suriya had stopped consuming salt for an entire week to achieve the six-pack abs required for his character. This level of dedication made Madhavan question whether he could have matched the same intensity had he taken on the role.


Ghajini’s legacy and Bollywood remake
After its immense success, 'Ghajini' was remade in Hindi with Aamir Khan stepping into the lead role, while Asin reprised her part. The Bollywood adaptation also became a blockbuster, cementing Ghajini’s place as one of Indian cinema’s most impactful action thrillers. Looking back, Madhavan’s rejection of Ghajini proved to be a blessing in disguise for Suriya, whose performance in the film remains one of his most celebrated to date.

On the other hand, Madhavan’s recent outing is the Nayanthara starrer ‘Test’ which is getting good reviews from the audiences. The movie is directed by S. Sashikanth and also has Siddharth and Meera Jasmine playing pivotal roles.