Prithviraj Sukumaran turns down Lyca’s offer to direct Rajinikanth? L2 Empuraan director reveals what he chose instead

It’s not often that a young filmmaker turns down the opportunity to direct superstar Rajinikanth. But that’s what happened when Lyca Productions had approached Malayalam actor-director Prithviraj Sukumaran with a chance to collaborate with the Vettaiyan star.

At the teaser launch event of Prithviraj’s directorial L2: Empuraan in Kochi on Sunday, the Malayalam star revealed that Lyca Productions were initially in talks with him for a film starring Rajinikanth.

Prithviraj on why he turned down the chance to direct Rajinikanth

“Subaskaran sir first reached out to me by giving me an opportunity to do film for Lyca Productions starrring Rajinikanth sir,” said Prithviraj. “The opportunity was so good for a new director like me that I tried my best to see if I can come up with something. They had a timeline in place, and since I was only a part-time director, I couldn’t come up with a subject for Rajini sir.”

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Though the project didn’t materialise, the Aadujeevitham actor said that it led to a friendship between Subaskaran and him, with the latter making it a point to meet the producer every time he visited London.

“Through these casual conversations, we began speaking about our dreams in cinema,” he said. This also led to two other opportunities. “One, Lyca Productions wanted me to do a really, big ambitious project as an actor. I hope it will happen someday. I said yes because it was such an ambitious film; I read the entire script and loved what was there on paper,” Prithviraj explained.

How Lyca Productions came onboard L2 Empuraan

Though the Rajinikanth film didn’t happen, Prithviraj explained, “not because I can’t, but because I wasn’t able to”, Subaskaran asked him about his latest director – Mohanlal-starrer L2: Empuraan – and how Lyca Productions could “be part of this dream of yours”.

That’s what led to the production house making their debut venture into Malayalam film industry through the movie, which is set to hit theatres on March 27. L2: Empuraan, which is the second instalment of the Lucifer franchise, also has Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas and Indrajith Sukumaran reprising their roles.

Also read: Tovino Thomas on Prithviraj Sukumaran’s L2 Empuraan: 'It gave me a chance to do things I rarely get to' | Exclusive