Rajiv Menon reveals why leading stars refused role opposite Aishwarya Rai that Mammootty aced in Kandukondain Kandukondain

Rajiv Menon’s 2000 romantic drama Kandukondain Kandukondain, starring Mammootty, Aishwarya Rai, Tabu, Ajith Kumar, and Abbas, remains one of the most celebrated Tamil films of its time. While the AR Rahman soundtrack became an instant classic, the film also won acclaim for its layered performances. Recently, director Rajiv Menon opened up about the casting of Mammootty as Major Bala, one of the film’s most memorable characters.In a conversation with Sudhir Srinivasan, Rajiv Menon revealed that the toughest casting decision was for the role of Major Bala, a war veteran with a tragic past. “The beauty of that character is that he is an alcoholic and a war veteran who lost a leg. But back then, some leading actors rejected the role, openly saying they did not want to play a man with one leg,” the director recalled.Eventually, the role went to Mammootty, who, Rajiv said, “never once considered it a drawback.” In the film, Major Bala’s quiet and unspoken love for Aishwarya Rai’s Meenakshi gave the character immense emotional depth.Rajiv Menon also shared a light-hearted memory from the shoot. Since Major Bala had lost his right leg in the war, Mammootty decided he should lean to the right while walking. “But sometimes during the shoot, he would forget. One day, I noticed he was leaning to the left instead. My assistant director wasn’t sure whether to point it out or not. Then Mammootty himself would ask, ‘Am I supposed to lean to the right or the left?’” the director laughed, adding that it became one of the funniest moments on set.