Here are some interesting facts you must know about the 1996 'Indian' ahead of the sequel's release

In 1996, the Tamil film industry saw the release of several notable movies, but one of the most significant and widely acclaimed is 'Indian,' which was directed by S. Shankar. The film featuring Kamal Haasan in the lead role went on to become a huge hit, and the film's sequel is releasing in theaters on July 12. The sequel released 28 years after the first part has hyped the audience well, and the much-awaited film is set to have a record opening. Here are some interesting facts about the 1996 'Indian' you must know before watching 'Indian 2'.

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When Shankar decided to do a film on bribery, the director preferred Rajinikanth for the lead role and built the film's script. But the film later went into Kamal Haasan's hands, and the talented actor excelled in his role to bring the director's vision to bigger screens than expected. Kamal Haasan also won the National Film Award for Best Actor for his brilliant performance in the movie.

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Kamal Haasan's freedom fighter character Senapathy in 'Indian' was inspired by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. There is a notable scene that includes original footage of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. This historical footage is used to emphasize the patriotism and freedom struggle themes central to the movie.

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Aishwarya Rai Bachchan made her Tamil debut with Mani Ratnam's 'Iruvar' in 1997, but the 1996 Tamil release 'Indian' was supposed to be the actress's Tamil debut. Aishwarya Rai was initially approached for Manisha Koirala's role in 'Indian', but she missed the film due to some reasons. However, Aishwarya Rai then acted in Shankar's directorial 'Jeans', and she played opposite Prashanth in the romantic drama.

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Kamal Haasan sported a versatile look for his Senapathy character in 'Indian', and American makeup artist Michael Westmore helped the lead actor with his stunning makeover. 'Indian' was one of the masterclass films in 'Indian', and it made it to the Academy Award selections. Shankar and Kamal Haasan's film was chosen as India's official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 1996 Academy Awards, but it failed to make it to the final nomination.

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Kamal Haasan, known for his dedication to authenticity in his roles, learned the ancient Tamil martial art of Varma Kalai for his portrayal of the character Senapathy. Kamal Haasan's commitment to learning and portraying the art added depth and realism to his performance as Senapathy, especially in the action sequences of the film. Aasaan Rajendran was the one who helped Kamal Haasan learn Varma Kalai.

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