3 min readHyderabadAug 8, 2026 05:31 PM IST
Jude Anthany Joseph says he walked out of Ayushmann film over Mohanlal’s ‘secondary casting’ | Malayalam News
Bollywood Project with Ayushmann Khurrana and Mohanlal Stalls Over “Secondary Casting” Dispute, Jude Anthany Joseph Reveals
Hyderabad: Renowned Malayalam filmmaker Jude Anthany Joseph has shed light on the abrupt halt of his ambitious Bollywood project, slated to star Ayushmann Khurrana and the legendary Mohanlal. The director revealed he ultimately walked away from the film after a contentious discussion regarding Mohanlal’s casting, which was reportedly deemed “secondary” during the decision-making process.
Joseph, who recently directed the Malayalam thriller “Thudakkam,” explained that his original story garnered significant interest from various film industries, leading to a multitude of offers.
Joseph Chose Khurrana’s Team Amidst 16 Offers
The filmmaker recounted receiving inquiries from major players across Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi cinema. “The manager of Chiranjeevi sir called from Telugu, the manager of Vikram sir called from Tamil, a production house called from Hindi, another production house from Telugu, and two production houses from Tamil called,” he stated, highlighting that he had an unprecedented 16 options to consider. From this diverse array, Joseph ultimately chose to collaborate with Ayushmann Khurrana’s team.
“The story I just told, I really liked Ayushmann Khurrana. It’s definitely a Bollywood movie, a proper Hindi film,” Joseph clarified, emphasizing that the script was specifically tailored to include a substantial role for Mohanlal.
Following the initial agreement, Joseph dedicated himself to completing the full script. However, the subsequent months were marred by what he described as protracted discussions without any firm commitment.
“They kept discussing and discussing for about six or seven months,” he recalled, expressing his frustration over the prolonged indecision.
Also Read: Thudakkam review: Vismaya Mohanlal shines, but Mohanlal’s cameo can’t save this flawed film
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“Secondary Casting” Remark Becomes Deal-Breaker
Growing increasingly impatient with the delays, Joseph issued a clear ultimatum before any further discussions could proceed. “You can discuss all you want, but first you have to commit to the movie with Mohanlal playing the role. He has to be in my film,” he insisted.
According to Joseph, the production team’s response arrived via email, stating that they would only proceed with “secondary casting” once they were entirely satisfied with the script. This particular phrase became the point of contention. Joseph immediately contacted the team to ascertain who they were referring to as “secondary casting” and was informed it was Mohanlal.
His response was unequivocal: he reminded them that Mohanlal is one of the most esteemed actors in Indian cinema, and if that was their perception of his casting, he had no interest in continuing the collaboration.
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Project Ends with Legal Notices and NDA
The production side’s final email, according to Joseph, simply read, “Alright, if that’s the case.” From that point, the matter escalated into legal territory, involving an exchange of correspondence between lawyers from both parties. The agreement was ultimately terminated, with Joseph returning the advance he had received for the project. A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) was subsequently signed, formally closing the chapter on the ambitious Bollywood venture.
Meanwhile, Joseph’s latest directorial effort, “Thudakkam,” premiered recently, marking the acting debut of Vismaya Mohanlal, daughter of the iconic Mohanlal. The Malayalam-language thriller, co-written by Joseph alongside Akhil Krishna and Linish Nellikkal, was produced by Antony Perumbavoor under the Aashirvad Cinemas banner, and released on Thursday.
