Over the years, Thalapathy Vijay has emerged as one of Tamil cinema’s most influential stars, known for his curated filmography and mass appeal. Interestingly, several films were initially offered to Vijay but did not materialise for various reasons, ranging from creative differences and date clashes to the nature of the role itself.

Here’s a look at some notable films Vijay was reportedly approached for, but eventually declined:

Mudhalvan (1999)

Director Shankar had initially considered Vijay for this iconic political action drama. However, Vijay reportedly opted out due to the film’s strong political theme, which he felt was not aligned with his career trajectory at the time. The role eventually went to Arjun Sarja and became a landmark film.

Singam (2010)

Director Hari reportedly approached Vijay for the role of Durai Singam. Vijay declined for reasons not publicly disclosed. Suriya’s portrayal turned the film into a blockbuster and launched one of Tamil cinema’s most successful franchises.

Dheena (2001)

A.R. Murugadoss’s directorial debut was first offered to Vijay. For undisclosed reasons, the actor declined the project, which later starred Ajith Kumar and emerged as a massive hit, earning Ajith the popular moniker ‘Thala’.

Sandakozhi (2005)

According to reports, Vijay declined the film after hearing only the first half of the script. The project eventually went to Vishal and became a significant commercial success.

Unnai Ninaithu (2002)

Vijay had initially begun shooting for the film but exited the project midway due to reported creative differences. Suriya stepped in as the lead, and the film went on to enjoy commercial success.

Dhool (2003)

Vijay reportedly felt that the script did not offer enough scope for his character and chose to turn it down. Vikram later headlined the film, which became one of the biggest blockbusters of the year.

Autograph (2004)

Vijay had initially agreed to star in Cheran’s autobiographical romantic drama but had to withdraw at the last moment due to date issues. Cheran himself took on the lead role, and the film received widespread critical acclaim.

Anegan (2015)

K.V. Anand had penned the script with Vijay in mind. However, due to prior commitments, particularly Kaththi, Vijay could not allocate dates, leading to Dhanush taking on the role.

Run (2002)

Both Vijay and Ajith are said to have declined this action-romance film before it was finalised with Madhavan in the lead role. The film later gained popularity and was also remade in Hindi.

Vettai (2012)

Director Lingusamy initially planned the film with Vijay and Silambarasan (Simbu) in key roles. Due to scheduling conflicts, both actors opted out, and the roles were later portrayed by Arya and Madhavan.

While these films found success with other actors, Vijay’s decisions ultimately contributed to shaping the star image and legacy he enjoys today.

Source / Image Credit : India Today ,Sun NXT , Sun NXT , Cinema Express