Rajamouli’s Big ‘What If’: Suriya Was Almost Cast in Magadheera – How It Could’ve Changed Telugu Cinema

Tamil star Suriya’s upcoming film Kanguva is all set for a grand pan-India release on November 14. With the release date approaching, Suriya and the Kanguva team are actively promoting the film through various events, including a recent pre-release event. At this event, special guest Rajamouli mentioned that he once considered making a film with Suriya, sparking widespread curiosity. Fans are now speculating which film this might have been. Let’s take a closer look.

Which Film Was It?

The mega-blockbuster Magadheera (Ram Charan) catapulted Charan’s career to new heights under Rajamouli’s direction. According to the latest buzz, Rajamouli initially wanted to cast Suriya in Magadheera. While there were strong rumors about Rajamouli wanting Suriya for Baahubali, these rumors were debunked by Rajamouli’s father and writer Vijayendra Prasad, who clarified that Baahubali was designed specifically for Prabhas. However, it’s believed that Rajamouli initially considered Suriya for Magadheera. At the Kanguva pre-release event, Rajamouli praised Suriya’s Ghajini, which was released in 2005—four years before Magadheera in 2009. Considering that Magadheera took three years to complete, it’s likely Rajamouli had the script ready by 2006. Based on these timelines, fans speculate that Magadheera was the film Rajamouli envisioned for Suriya.

What If That Had Happened?

If Suriya had done Magadheera instead of Ram Charan, Charan’s career might have looked very different. After his debut with Chirutha, which received moderate success, Charan struggled to establish a strong foothold until Magadheera cemented his position in the industry. Even though he acted in several films after Magadheera, he didn’t experience another significant breakthrough until Rangasthalam in 2018. Industry analysts and fans believe that without Magadheera, Charan’s career might not have reached the heights it did.

‘Missed Chance to Work with Suriya’

At the Kanguva pre-release event, Rajamouli expressed admiration for Kollywood actor Suriya, crediting him as an inspiration for his pan-India films. He acknowledged Suriya’s impact on promoting Telugu cinema globally, citing Suriya’s promotion for Ghajini as a case study on how actors from different industries can connect with Telugu audiences. Rajamouli explained that Suriya’s efforts inspired him while creating Baahubali but noted that, despite wanting to work with Suriya, the opportunity never materialized.

‘Told the Story… It Didn’t Work Out’

In a recent interview, Tamil star Karthi shared an interesting story about Rajamouli’s attempt to collaborate with him and Suriya. During the promotions for Satyam Sundaram, Karthi, in a conversation with director Gautham Menon, revealed that Rajamouli had once narrated a story to him and Suriya. “Rajamouli Sir told us a story that was good, but the movie didn’t materialize,” Karthi explained. Fans were stunned, wondering why they would pass on a Rajamouli film. If this project had taken off, it might have further elevated the careers of both Suriya and Karthi.