Rajinikanth Reveals Aishwarya Rai Was First Choice for Iconic Neelambari Role in Padayappa

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In anticipation of Padayappa's re-release, Rajinikanth shared a special video revisiting the film's journey. The superstar revealed that Aishwarya Rai was initially approached for the role of Neelambari but turned down the offer. Rajinikanth, however, was willing to wait for up to 2-3 years for the right actress to play the character, citing its importance to the film's success. Ultimately, the role went to Ramya Krishnan, whom the film's director, K.S. Ravikumar, had suggested. Interestingly, Aishwarya and Rajinikanth later collaborated on the film Enthiran. The video also confirmed that a sequel to Padayappa is in the works, titled Neelambari: Padayappa 2. The original Padayappa, released in 1999, features Rajinikanth, Ramya Krishnan, and Soundarya in lead roles and was a massive commercial success. It is set to re-release in theaters for Rajinikanth's birthday. The actor is currently working on Jailer 2, scheduled for release in June 2026.