Padayappa re-release: Rajinikanth revisits casting for Neelambari ‘they suggested Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi but no one had that power in their eyes’
To mark Rajinikanth's 50 years in cinema, his iconic film Padayappa will be re-released on December 12, coinciding with his 75th birthday.
Last Updated: 08.44 AM, Dec 09, 2025
To celebrate 50 years of actor Rajinikanth, fans are gearing up for the re-release of the superstar's blockbuster drama Padayappa. The film will hit theatres once again on December 12, coinciding with Rajinikanth's 75th birthday celebrations. Ahead of this, Rajinikanth revisited the making of the cult classic. In one of those moments, Rajinikanth recollected casting for the character Neelambari, the primary antagonist played by Ramya Krishnan, which went on to be as iconic as the film itself.
Padayappa re-release: Rajinikanth revisits casting for Neelambari character
Rajinikanth opened up about casting for Neelambari role, and how the first choice was Aishwarya Rai. However the latter did not take up the project, leading to Ramya Krishnan doing the role. "I always visioned her for the character and she was perfect for the role. I was firm on my stand and we tried to follow-up for months. Had she liked the role and asked us to wait for 1-2 years, we would have but we got to know that she did not like it. So, thought of other options. Names like Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit, Meena came up but no one had those power in their eyes."
Also read: The many shades of Rajinikanth: The Navarasa tucked within his 50 years of glorious Tamil cinema
It was at this time when he got a call from Hyderabad, suggesting Ramya Krishnan's name. The superstar also added that he went half-hearted to the look test but she looked good. Eventually she nailed the role, Rajinikanth said.
Padayappa re-release:
Padayappa, directed by KS Ravikumar, is Rajinikanth’s 25thfilm and was a superhit at the time of its release. The film’s story was penned by Rajinikanth himself. With Padayappa re-releasing once again, it will hit theatres on December 12. It stars Ramya Krishnan, late actors Soundarya and Sivaji Ganesan, and Lakshmi, Radha Ravi, Nassar, Abbas, Sithara and Preetha among others. The film revolves around the titular character whose family is brought to ruins after he rejects the proposal of a rich and egoistic woman Neelambari. It has music by AR Rahman.
Padayappa FAQs
Q. Where can I stream Padayappa?
A. Padayappa is not available on any OTT platform.
Q. Is Padayappa hit or flop?
A. Padayappa was a massive hit in Rajinikanth's career, and went on to become a cult classic.
Q. Is Padayappa 2 based on a true story?
A. Rajinikanth recently revealed that Padayappa 2 is on cards and will be titled Neelambari.