RJ Balaji on why he rejected Indian 2: 'Better to be the head of a rat than the tail of a tiger'

Former RJ-turned-actor RJ Balaji is making headlines with his candid revelations while promoting his upcoming movie Sorgavaasal. Known for his sharp wit and unconventional career choices, Balaji has shared his philosophy of saying more “no”s than “yes”s to carve a distinct identity in the Tamil film industry. His decision to be selective has even led him to turn down offers from directors like Shankar and Lokesh Kanagaraj.

In a recent interview, Balaji disclosed that he declined an opportunity to be part of Shankar’s Indian 2, starring Kamal Haasan. The decision came after the success of his solo venture LKG, which saw him in the lead role and received widespread appreciation from audiences. Reflecting on his choice, Balaji explained, “I was supposed to act in Indian 2. Back in 2015-2016, Shankar sir asked me to join the cast, and it was a moment of great pride for me. However, the project faced delays. By the time it resumed, LKG had been released, and I had to reconsider my role in Indian 2. With actors like Siddharth and SJ Suryah already in the film, I questioned what value I could add.”

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Balaji further elaborated on his decision-making process: “I felt it was better to be a rat’s head than a tiger’s tail. I have a desire to work in big-canvas movies that are technically brilliant. However, when Lokesh Kanagaraj offered me roles, they were for just six or seven minutes. I don’t want to do that. If producers are investing around Rs 20 crore in Sorgavaasal, I owe it to them to focus on my film and give it my best.”

While Balaji admitted that his decision to decline Indian 2 came with some regret, he remained firm in his belief. “It was an opportunity to work with Shankar sir and Kamal sir, and there was definitely some regret. But I had to stay true to the path I chose during LKG.”

Interestingly, Indian 2, which was released earlier this year, received poor reviews and turned out to be one of the biggest box-office disappointments of 2024.

Sorgavaasal is due in cinemas on November 29. 

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