When Rajiv Menon revealed why leading stars rejected the ‘Kandukondain Kandukondain’ role opposite Aishwarya Rai

Mammootty’s 'Kandukondain Kandukondain' remains one of Tamil cinema’s most cherished romantic dramas. Directed by Rajiv Menon, the film brought together an exceptional ensemble that included Aishwarya Rai, Tabu, Ajith Kumar and Abbas. In an old interview, the filmmaker opened up about the movie’s casting journey and revealed why several leading male stars refused to take on a role opposite Aishwarya Rai.In a conversation with Sudhir Srinivasan, Rajiv Menon revealed that casting the character of Major Bala proved to be the most challenging part of the film. The role was layered and complex — a war veteran who had lost a leg and struggled with alcoholism. Explaining why the character initially faced resistance, Menon said, “The beauty of that character is that he is an alcoholic and a war veteran who lost a leg. But back then, some leading actors rejected the role, openly saying they did not want to play a man with one leg.” The role ultimately went to Mammootty, who embraced it without hesitation. Rajiv Menon recalled that the actor “never once considered it a drawback.” Mammootty’s portrayal added layers of quiet pain and dignity to Major Bala. His restrained performance, particularly the unspoken love his character harboured for Aishwarya Rai’s Meenakshi, delivered some of the film’s most emotionally powerful moments, where silences spoke louder than words.Rajiv Menon also shared a light-hearted anecdote from the shoot. Since Major Bala had lost his right leg, Mammootty chose to lean to the right while walking. Over long shooting days, this occasionally led to confusion. Recalling one such moment, Menon said, “But sometimes during the shoot, he would forget. One day, I noticed he was leaning to the left instead. My assistant director wasn’t sure whether to point it out or not. Then Mammootty himself would ask, ‘Am I supposed to lean to the right or the left?’”The moment went on to become a memorable laugh on set.Mammootty is currently filming 'Padayaatra' with Adoor Gopalakrishnan. The film went on floors on January 23 and marks their reunion after 32 years since 'Vidheyan'. He has also officially teamed up with filmmaker Rajkumar Periasamy for a Tamil project tentatively titled 'D55', which stars Dhanush.