5 min learnKochiAug 23, 2026 06:55 PM IST
Whereas Vijay, who at present serves because the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, was one of many greatest superstars in Indian cinema when he retired to deal with politics and state administration, that wasn’t all the time the case all through his profession. Actually, there was a interval that lasted about 4 years when his movies underperformed back-to-back.
Regardless of being identified for actioners throughout that part of his profession, it was really a romantic comedy that put Vijay again on the map, and curiously, it was a remake of a Malayalam movie. On the actor’s insistence, the director had even briefly deliberate the movie as a Tamil unique, however the producer was apparently not impressed with the story, prompting the helmer to maneuver ahead with making it in Malayalam. The movie additionally obtained a Hindi remake, which too grew to become a large success.
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Why Tamil Bodyguard didn’t materialise initially
The film we’re referring to is Kaavalan (2011), helmed by late legendary director Siddique. A remake of his Malayalam romantic comedy Bodyguard (2010), Vijay and Asin reprised in Tamil the lead characters initially performed by Dileep and Nayanthara. Throughout an look on Safari TV’s “Charithram Enniloode” programme as soon as, Siddique revealed how Vijay’s want to make the movie in Tamil first fell via and that he repeatedly obtained cellphone calls warning him in opposition to remaking it.
“Whereas I used to be engaged on the Malayalam model, I had visited Tamil Nadu for some motive. Vijay was capturing subsequent to the resort the place I stayed. I went to satisfy him, we talked for some time. He requested about my subsequent film, and I instructed him the plot. He mentioned, ‘Sir, let’s do that in Tamil!’ He even advised releasing the Tamil model earlier than the Malayalam one. I instructed him I had already given Dileep my phrase. He mentioned, ‘Verify with Dileep. I feel this can work superbly in Tamil.’ Vijay was going to work with AVM Productions at the moment,” Siddique recalled.
A remake of the Malayalam movie Bodyguard, Vijay and Asin reprised the lead characters initially performed by Dileep and Nayanthara in Kaavalan. (Credit score: IMDb)
The Tamil celebrity requested Siddique to pitch the story to the manufacturing firm, and the director did. “However they didn’t prefer it as a result of they needed an motion film for Vijay. They went with one other movie (Vettaikaaran) as a substitute. I instructed Vijay we’d speak later. As soon as I completed the Malayalam movie, I confirmed it to Vijay. He mentioned, ‘It’s nice! Let’s do it in Tamil instantly.’ A producer who had labored with Vijay earlier than was focused on bankrolling this mission, and we had been each okay with him.”
How 5 consecutive setbacks pushed Vijay to the brink
On the time of Kaavalan’s launch, Vijay was going via a troublesome part in his profession, not having delivered any main successes since Pokkiri (2007). Regardless of being a large star, with all his motion pictures arriving amidst excessive anticipation, Vijay’s Azhagiya Tamil Magan (2007), Kuruvi (2008), Villu (2009), Vettaikaaran (2009), and Sura (2010) underperformed. The work on Kaavalan started at a time when the actor desperately wanted a bona fide box-office hit.
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“Nevertheless, Vijay saved getting calls from Kerala saying Bodyguard was a flop and that he shouldn’t do it. Vijay referred to as me and mentioned, ‘Sir, persons are telling me to not do it. Why are they saying such issues?’ I instructed him I didn’t know why. Vijay then referred to as producer Shibu, who distributes his movies. Shibu instructed him Bodyguard was an enormous hit in Kerala with nice critiques. That’s how we began the Tamil film, and it was a large hit.”
How Bodyguard reached Salman Khan
Whereas discussions for the Tamil model had been underway, Siddique received a possibility to remake it in Hindi as properly, with Salman Khan — the director’s first selection for a Bollywood model — enjoying the lead function. “A good friend of mine at some point introduced Salman Khan’s sister Alvira Khan’s husband, actor-producer Atul Agnihotri, to me. Salman had already given Atul his dates for a film. Atul requested if I may narrate the story to him in order that he may inform the actor and make sure the mission. Once I narrated the story, he additionally preferred it rather a lot and mentioned it will be excellent for Salman Khan,” Siddique shared.
Vijay with director Siddique on the units of Kaavalan. (Credit score: IMDb)
He added, “After the discharge of the Malayalam model, I subtitled it and confirmed it to Salman. He watched it and referred to as me through the interval, saying, ‘We’re doing this!’ As soon as he completed watching the entire movie, he requested me to come back to Mumbai as quickly as attainable. Throughout our assembly, he requested me if we may begin the mission straight away. I instructed him I had already mentioned sure to the Tamil model and gave him a timeline of when my dedication to Vijay could be over. We deliberate the Hindi model accordingly.”
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Bankrolled by Atul Agnihotri and Alvira Khan, the Hindi Bodyguard (2011) featured Kareena Kapoor Khan as the feminine lead. The film grew to become a large success in Bollywood as properly, grossing Rs 252.99 crore globally, in line with Bollywood Hungama.
