DYK Prabhas rejected THIS cult cop thriller for a love story?

Prabhas widely recognized for his action-packed roles almost starred in the iconic Tamil cop thriller Thani Oruvan. Directed by Mohan Raja, the film became a cult classic with Ravi Mohan, Nayanthara, and Arvind Swamy in pivotal roles. Surprisingly, Prabhas was initially approached to play the lead role but declined due to his focus on romantic films at the time.

In an interview with SS Music in 2023, Mohan Raja revealed that Thani Oruvan was originally conceptualized with Prabhas in mind. The story even included scenes tailored specifically for him. However, when the director narrated the script, Prabhas expressed interest in romantic films instead, asking if Raja had any love stories to offer.

Mohan Raja later reflected on this decision, stating that a collaboration with Prabhas on a romantic project could have altered his career trajectory. Ultimately, Raja worked on Velayudham, a romantic-action film with Thalapathy Vijay.

Despite missing out on the role, Thani Oruvan achieved immense success with Ravi Mohan as the lead. The gripping storyline and stellar performances made the movie a benchmark in Tamil cinema. To celebrate its eighth anniversary in 2024, a sequel was announced, with Ravi Mohan and Nayanthara set to reprise their roles.

Prabhas’ decision highlights how career choices can shape an actor’s journey. While he went on to achieve global fame with films like Baahubali and Saaho, one cannot help but wonder how Thani Oruvan would have turned out with him in the lead.

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