New Delhi, Dec. 10 -- As Padayappa prepares for a grand theatrical re-release, Rajinikanth is looking back at the making of the 1999 classic-and sharing some lesser-known stories behind its most memorable characters. In a new video released ahead of the re-release, the superstar revealed that the role of Neelambari-one of Tamil cinema's most defining antagonists-was first envisioned for Aishwarya Rai, not Ramya Krishnan.

Rajinikanth recalled the extensive effort the team made to approach Aishwarya during the film's pre-production phase. "We wanted Aishwarya Rai to play Neelambari. After a lot of difficulty, we managed to get in touch with her," he said. According to him, the character was so pivotal that he was prepared to wait as long a...