Kamal Haasan is all set for the release of his much-awaited film Indian 2 aka Hindustani 2 in Hindi, which will release worldwide on July 12, 2024. In an exclusive interview on Pinkvilla Masterclass, the veteran actor was asked about the possibilities of reviving his unfinished film Marudhanayagam.
Kamal Haasan responded, “If the person asking about Hindustani’s age shuts up, then only I can take Marudhanayagam forward. This is because Hindustani is a character created by Shankar while Marudhanayagam is a real-life person.”
He further added, “If I play him today, one can calculate and say that he died at the age of 40 and that’s why this old man is playing like that. Moreover, it is possible to do so. The only thing is that you should not ask me how old Marudhanayagam is.”
Watch Pinkvilla’s exclusive interview with Kamal Haasan
For those who don’t know, Marudhanayagam is an unfinished historical drama directed and produced by Kamal Haasan. The film featured the veteran actor in the lead role, who also wrote the screenplay along with novelist Sujatha.
This unfinished film was based on a real-life character named Marudhanayagam alias Muhammad Yusuf Khan, who was the Commandant of the Madras Army of the British East India Company. The shooting of this film began in 1997, with Queen Elizabeth II as the chief guest at its launch.
However, despite several attempts, the film’s shoot failed to resume after an international company backed out from funding the project. The film was considered one of the most expensive projects of the time, with Ilaiyaraaja roped in to compose the tracks and score.
More information about Indian 2
Indian 2, starring Kamal Haasan in the lead, is a sequel to his own 1996 cult classic film Indian, which was directed by Shankar. The upcoming film which is scheduled to hit the big screens on July 12, 2024, features Haasan in the role of Senapathi, a veteran freedom fighter who also works as a vigilante to combat corruption in India.
Produced by Lyca Productions, the film stars Siddharth, SJ Suryah, Rakul Preet Singh, Bobby Simha, Vivek, Priya Bhavani Shankar in lead roles.