Lokesh Kanagaraj reveals why he turned down the antagonist role in Sivakarthikeyan’s Parasakthi. Here’s the full story behind his surprising decision.
An Unexpected Development in Tamil Cinema
In an industry like Tamil cinema that evolves to keep up with change, where directors often stay behind the scenes, it shouldn’t have come as a shock to see Lokesh Kanagaraj, one of Kollywood’s most prolific directors, announce he was offered a role as an antagonist in Sivakarthikeyan’s latest film, Parasakthi. The shocking twist happened when fans discovered he turned the role, walking away from such a fantastic opportunity. Recently, he clarified what happened.
In a recent interview, Lokesh discussed why he chose not to debut as an actor in such an important role. Let’s unpack the whole story behind the surprising turn of events, why the role went to Ravi Mohan, and what it means for Lokesh, Kollywood, and Tamil cinema in the coming years.
Who is Lokesh Kanagaraj? The Man Behind the Camera
Before we dig into the controversy, let’s briefly remind ourselves why Lokesh Kanagaraj is important to Tamil cinema:
First Film: Maanagaram (2017)
First Major hit: Kaithi (2019)
First Box Office Hit: Master (2021) with Vijay
Creator of a Cinematic Universe: Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU) using Kaithi, Vikram(2022), and up-and-coming Leo with Vijay
Kanagaraj is known for his gritty, action-packed storytelling, his layered characters, and a filmmaking style that manages to combine mass with class.
The Offer: Lokesh as the Villain in Parasakthi
Unique Move: Director to Actor
Lokesh Kanagaraj was approached to be the villain in Sivakarthikeyan’s next movie, Parasakthi. It is said to be a hard-hitting socio-political drama, headed by an upcoming director supported by a solid production house. Kanagaraj supposedly liked the script and started to get serious about the offer.
What was So Special about the Role?
The villain is not a typical villain, but a character with layers and emotional motives.
The film has themes of power, politics, and social justice that would be very close to Lokesh’s style of story-telling.
It would mark Kanagaraj’s first full-blown acting debut, and allowed him to cross the director-actor threshold.
Why Lokesh Kanagaraj Didn’t Accept the Role
Scheduling Conflict Due to Existing Commitments
Even if Lokesh liked the script, and even if Sivakarthikeyan had given it a personal seal of approval, he commented in an interview that he just could not accept the role due to a scheduling conflict.
The Bigger Picture: Loyalty to the Lokesh Cinematic Universe
Insiders are stating that he is currently tied up with the next LCU project, which consists of multiple major stars and multi-party narratives that are demanding his full attention.
Next LCU Film Already Underway: Rumored to consist of Suriya, providing relationships from Kaithi and Vikram.
Rumors also state that Lokesh is preparing a pan-India crossover and is already busy with that, so his schedule is completely tight.
Who Took the Role Instead? Back to the villain role, Ravi Mohan, a hardcore actor with a theatre training background, and an intense screen character.
What Makes Ravi Mohan Ideal
Trained in method acting
Known for intense performances in indie Tamil films
Worked with the Parasakthi director before on short films
Why These Were the Right Decisions
For Lokesh Kanagaraj:
Keeps his directorial brand intact with his identity
Does not devote half a commitment to acting
Has new opportunities to elevate the LCU, which everyone who is a fan doesn’t say he is a producer in advance. So, it is a fully anticipated film for the fans and makes in a position for Walt.
I think we should switch it up here! with Parasakthi:
Bring the director with a real spotlight on a major role for a seasoned actor like Ravi Mohan, who is not a star, nor a lead actor too this day; however, I can see why they hired him.
Lessons for Future Filmmakers and Actors
This episode gives important insights for any practitioner:
Be True To Yourself
Lokesh knew where his strengths lay with regard to directing a film, and that’s all he should’ve focused on.
Don’t Just Say Yes to Something Because of Hype
Even with a major star like Sivakarthikeyan attached, he didn’t say yes for the simple reason of popular association.
Time is the Most Important Asset
It’s important to build a career that incorporates just the right amount of projects, not too little or too many.
Lokesh’s Choice Has Implications Beyond One Project
At first glance, it might seem like Lernsh Kanagaraj walking away from a big antagonist role in Parasakthi might not be the best decision. But what we have is an aware filmmaker who understands the value of focus, timing, and storytelling direction, making a decision.
FAQs
1. Why did they want to cast Lokesh Kanagaraj for an acting role in Parasakthi?
Their reasons were based on his strong (and very present) character, bringing something extra to the character of the antagonist they were trying to craft. Sivakarthikeyan suggested Lokesh to the production; mind you, while Sivakarthikeyan is a major star, he is not the biggest star.
2. Why did Lokesh Kanagaraj call it off?
The conflict in schedule is based on his other major project – the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (or related).
3. Has Lokesh acted in films before?
Other fleeting cameo appearances, this would’ve marked Lokesh Kanagaraj’s first substantial acting performance.