“I told Ravikumar that if we couldn’t find someone with those powerful eyes, we might as well stop the film,” recalled Rajinikanth.
Ahead of the re-release of the Tamil blockbuster Padayappa on December 12, superstar Rajinikanth has revealed that his original choice for the iconic antagonist Neelambari was Aishwarya Rai. The actor made the remark in a newly released video titled The Return of Padayappa, which has been shared as part of celebrations marking his 75th birthday.
Rajinikanth recounted several behind-the-scenes details from the film’s making, including the difficulty of casting the powerful Neelambari role.
“Whenever I thought of the character Neelambari, Aishwarya Rai was the only person who came to mind. I felt she would be perfect for the role and hoped she would take it up,” he said. According to him, the team tried for nearly three months to secure her dates, even reaching out through her relatives. “If she had agreed, we would have waited—even for a year—because the character had to click. Otherwise, the film wouldn’t work. Later, we came to know she wasn’t interested in the role.”
As a result, the makers had to explore other options. Rajinikanth said he had told director K. S. Ravikumar that the film would succeed only if the Neelambari character was exceptionally strong. Despite many suggestions, no one seemed to have the commanding presence the role demanded.
“I told Ravikumar that if we couldn’t find someone with those powerful eyes, we might as well stop the film. Then Ravikumar himself suggested Ramya Krishnan, and that changed everything,” he said.
Neelambari went on to become one of the most memorable female antagonists in Tamil cinema. Ramya Krishnan’s performance received critical acclaim and became a major milestone in her career.
Rajinikanth also confirmed that discussions are underway for a sequel. “In the first film, Neelambari says she will take revenge in her next life. That’s why the second part will be titled Neelambari – Padayappa 2. If the film turns out well, it will be a celebration for the fans,” he added.
He further revealed that he was both the original producer of the film and the developer of the Padayappa story.
Published: 10 Dec 2025, 02:22 pm IST
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