Was set to direct Rajinikanth in a movie but it didn't materialise, says Prithviraj Sukumaran

Prithviraj Sukumaran reveals missed opportunity to direct Rajinikanth, leading to friendship and future collaborations with Lyca Productions.

Malayalam actor-filmmaker Prithviraj Sukumaran said he came close to directing Tamil superstar Rajinikanth in a movie but he couldn't get the script ready well in time.

Prithviraj, who made his directorial debut with 2019's Lucifer, said A Subaskaran of Lyca Productions once approached him for a project starring Rajinikanth under his banner.

The actor-director was speaking at the teaser launch of Mohanlal-starrer L2: Empuraan, the upcoming sequel to Lucifer, on Sunday. The movie is set to hit the screens on March 27, 2025.

"Subaskaran sir first reached out to me by allowing me to do a film for Lyca Productions, starring Rajinikanth sir. The opportunity was so good for a new director like me, and I tried my best to see if I could come up with something.

"Subaskaran sir wanted the project to happen within a particular timeline. Since I'm a part-time director, I couldn't come up with a subject for the producer. So, that didn't happen," Sukumaran told reporters here.

While the film with Lyca Productions and Rajinikanth didn't materialise, it led to the beginning of a friendship between the actor and Subaskaran, he added.

Sukumaran also revealed that the production banner wanted to collaborate with him as an actor on an "ambitious movie", but that didn't come to fruition either.