Did you know that Mohanlal turned down this part in Rajinikanth's Shivaji: The Boss?

Mohanlal

Known affectionately as "The Complete Actor," Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has had one of the most distinguished careers in Indian cinema. The Superstar of Malayalam cinema has achieved something big and this is something the entire industry and his fans are super proud of. The veteran, who recently received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, is still praised for his versatility and charisma on screen. However, Mohanlal once had to decline a big chance to play a bad character in Shankar's hugely popular Shivaji: The Boss.

The Reason Mohanlal Refused

Mohanlal stated in a previous Rediff interview that he was asked to play the antagonist in the 2007 movie by director Shankar. He acknowledged that the character was really fascinating, but scheduling proved to be the obstacle.

Yes, Shankar told me the plot when we first met. I thought it was a really interesting negative character," Mohanlal said. But the director needed his dates to be spaced out over a full year. Mohanlal was unwilling to give up a number of Malayalam projects in order to accept the offer. "I want my positive relationship with Tamil Nadu and Kerala to continue. But it was a good villain's role," he continued.

Concerning Shivaji: The Master

Rajinikanth played a software engineer who returned from overseas to help the poor in the 2007 film Shivaji: The Boss. The movie became a huge hit both in India and abroad. In the end, actor Suman portrayed the antagonist and received recognition for his work.

Also read: OG: Pawan Kalyan lends voice for Washi Yo Washi, internet goes gaga over the song

The Current Lineup of Mohanlal

Regarding his career, Mohanlal most recently starred alongside Malavika Mohanan and Sangeeth Prathap in the family comedy-drama Hridayapoorvam. He will next star in Nanda Kishore's grand period drama Vrusshabha. The movie is scheduled for release on October 16, 2025, and the teaser has already generated excitement.