Mani Ratnam Declined A Remake With Kamal Haasan

Acclaimed filmmaker Mani Ratnam recently reminisced about his first collaboration with Kamal Haasan, sharing some fascinating behind-the-scenes moments.

“I was at home after making Mouna Ragam when leading Tamil producer Muktha Srinivasan came to see me. I was surprised—usually, I would be the one visiting producers, seeking opportunities. So it caught me off guard,” Mani Ratnam recalled.

He continued, “Muktha sir handed me a cover, and I was quite pleased, assuming it contained money. But inside was a VHS cassette of a Hindi film. Kamal Haasan had asked me to watch it.”

After watching the film, Mani Ratnam felt uncertain. “I told the producer that I might not be the right person to do a remake—I didn’t think I was good at it. The next day, Muktha sir came again and took me to meet Kamal Haasan at a studio.”

“I told Kamal that I had some original ideas instead, and I pitched two of them. He liked one—and just like that, I was making a film with Kamal Haasan. I couldn’t believe it. The rest, as they say, is history.”

Mani Ratnam also expressed his excitement about reuniting with Kamal Haasan for their upcoming film Thug Life. “It has been a wonderful experience,” he said.