Before Sivakarthikeyan was cast in AR Murugadoss upcoming Tamil action-drama Madharaasi, the director had someone else in mind for the lead Shah Rukh Khan. In a recent interview with Galatta Plus, Murugadoss confirmed long-standing rumors that he once pitched the role to the Bollywood superstar.
“I didn’t plan the whole film with Shah Rukh Khan,” he said. “But I did pitch the character to him about 7–8 years ago. He liked it.” At the time, the filmmaker only had the character in mind not a full script. Cinematographer Ravi K Chandran reportedly set up the meeting between Murugadoss and Shah Rukh.
Murugadoss recalled that Shah Rukh responded warmly to the pitch and even expressed interest in working together. However, the project didn’t move forward. “The delay was very long, which is why it never materialised,” Murugadoss explained. He also hinted that the lack of follow-up communication played a part in shelving the idea. After his 2008 blockbuster Ghajini with Aamir Khan, the director admitted he felt less motivated to work in Hindi cinema.
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Now, Madharaasi is finally set to hit theatres on September 5, starring Sivakarthikeyan in the lead role. The cast also includes Rukmini Vasanth, Vidyut Jammwal, and Biju Menon. Murugadoss promises the character will speak for itself once audiences see the film.
Shah Rukh Khan, who had a massive 2023 with Pathaan, Jawan, and Dunki, is currently working on King with his daughter Suhana Khan. Meanwhile, Murugadoss’s last release, Sikandar with Salman Khan, didn’t perform as expected but Madharaasi could be his big comeback.