When director Shankar decided to tackle the theme of bribery in a film, he initially envisioned Rajinikanth in the lead role and built the script around him. However, due to Rajinikanth's prior commitments, he could not take on the project. Shankar, determined to bring his vision to the screen, then approached Kamal Haasan, who enthusiastically joined the project. The film, originally titled "Periya Manushan," eventually became "Indian" (1996).

Kamal Haasan's exceptional performance in "Indian" earned him the National Film Award for Best Actor, significantly elevating the film's impact. Despite Rajinikanth's absence, the movie's success showcased Kamal Haasan's talent and Shankar's directorial prowess.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who made her film debut with the Tamil movie "Iruvar" (1997), was initially considered for a role in "Indian." However, due to her contract with an ad agency until October 1995, she had to decline the offer. Aishwarya later collaborated with Shankar in "Jeans" (1998) and "Enthiran" (2010).


For "Indian," Shankar cast Manisha Koirala, impressed by her performance in Mani Ratnam's "Bombay" (1995). Additionally, producer A.M. Rathnam, captivated by Urmila Matondkar's role in the Hindi film "Rangeela" (1995), decided to include her in the cast, adding to the film's pan-Indian appeal.

Ultimately, "Indian" became a landmark film, not only for its compelling storyline and social message but also for the powerful performances and collaborative efforts of its talented cast and crew.

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3. Aishwarya Rai was approached pre-debut

Actress #AishwaryaRaiBachchan made her film debut with the Tamil movie Iruvar (1997), & even before that she received multiple offers, one of them being #Indian (1996).#KamalHaasan was cast in the Shankar directed movie in June 1995,… pic.twitter.com/YMG3AZjTje

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