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‘Mudhalvan’ to ‘Singam’: When Thalapathy Vijay said NO to these blockbuster films

TOI Entertainment Desk
| ETimes.in | Last updated on - May 21, 2026, 15:36 IST
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1/7

​‘Mudhalvan’ to ‘Singam’: When Thalapathy Vijay said NO to these blockbuster films

Thalapathy Vijay began his acting career as a child artist in 'Vetri' in 1984 and reportedly earned just Rs 500 for the film. He is currently one of the most highly paid actors in the Indian film industry and is reported to be making close to Rs 200 crores for his next movie titled 'Jana Nayagan.' Over his career span of more than three decades, Vijay has produced many successful films and gained a large fan base all over the globe. But what makes him unique is that he has also turned down many successful movies. Some were rejected due to date issues, while others did not connect with him at that time. Here’s a look at the blockbuster films Vijay missed during his career.

2/7

'Mudhalvan' – Vijay turned down this political drama

After Rajinikanth reportedly declined 'Mudhalvan,' director S. Shankar approached Vijay for the lead role. However, as Vijay had doubts regarding the story and politics associated with the movie, he withdrew from the project. The role later went to Arjun Sarja, and the film became a cult classic.

3/7

'Autograph' – The emotional drama Vijay passed on

National Award-winning film 'Autograph' was also reportedly offered to Vijay. Director Cheran later decided to play the lead role himself after Vijay and a few other actors declined the project. The emotional drama went on to become one of the most appreciated Tamil films of its time.

4/7

'Run' – A major commercial hit that Vijay missed

Director N. Linguswamy reportedly first approached Vijay for Run. However, the actor turned down the offer for unknown reasons. The film later starred R. Madhavan and became a blockbuster hit. It was later remade in Hindi as well.

5/7

'Sandakozhi' – Vijay rejected the role that made Vishal a mass hero

A few years after Run, Linguswamy once again approached Vijay for 'Sandakozhi.' But Vijay reportedly did not feel convinced about the role and rejected the film. The movie later went to Vishal and became one of the biggest Tamil hits of 2005. The film played a major role in building Vishal’s action hero image in Tamil cinema.

6/7

'Singam' – The cop-action hit that went to Suriya

Director Hari reportedly first approached Vijay for 'Singam.' However, Vijay could not take up the project due to personal reasons. The role later went to Suriya, and the film became one of the biggest hits of 2010. Due to its success, a number of remakes and sequels have been made in different languages, such as Hindi and Punjabi.

7/7

'Anegan' – Vijay suggested Dhanush for the film

K. V. Anand, the director of 'Anegan,' preferred to cast Vijay as the male lead in his film. But Vijay was already busy with films like 'Jilla' and 'Kaththi,' making it difficult to allot dates. Reports say Vijay loved the script and even suggested Dhanush for the role. The film later became a successful romantic thriller.

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Copyright © Jun 10, 2026, 03.24PM IST Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service