Malayalam filmmaker Jude Anthany Joseph has revealed why he decided to walk away from a proposed Hindi film starring Ayushmann Khurrana. The director had been developing the project after being approached by production houses from different film industries, but discussions eventually broke down over the casting of Mohanlal. Jude says the veteran Malayalam actor had an important role in his story, and he wanted his participation confirmed before completing the screenplay.
What ultimately upset Jude was not simply the production house’s decision to wait before confirming the casting. According to the filmmaker, the way Mohanlal’s role was described during their conversation became the turning point. Jude says the makers referred to Mohanlal as a “secondary artist,” a description he found unacceptable given the actor’s stature and the importance of the character he had written.
Why Jude Chose to Leave the Film
Jude said several production houses from the Tamil and Telugu industries had shown interest in his story, but he eventually decided to develop it as what he described as “a proper Bollywood film” with Ayushmann Khurrana. By that stage, he had already worked on the basic script for the proposed Hindi project and had discussed the story with the production house.
Mohanlal was already part of Jude’s creative plans. According to the filmmaker, the character was not a minor appearance or an interchangeable supporting role but an important part of the story. That is why Jude made confirmation of Mohanlal’s participation a condition before he continued developing the screenplay.
“The basic script was almost complete. We had also discussed the story with the production house. At that time, Lal sir had a role in the story. It was an important role. However, they asked me to complete the screenplay first. At that point, I put forward a demand to them. I told them that I could complete the script, but my condition was that Lal sir should be confirmed for the project.”
The production house, however, wanted to evaluate the completed screenplay before committing to the casting. That position itself was not necessarily the issue for Jude. What changed the situation was the language used when the filmmakers discussed Mohanlal’s place in the project.
“They responded by saying, ‘First, we need to like the script. Only then will we think about the secondary artists.’”
For Jude, the phrase “secondary artists” crossed a line. He has immense regard for Mohanlal and considered the role important enough that he did not want the actor’s involvement to remain an open-ended possibility while the screenplay was being completed.
Mohanlal’s Role Became the Deal-Breaker
The disagreement eventually became serious enough for Jude to involve his lawyer. Rather than continuing negotiations and compromising on the casting condition he had established, the filmmaker chose to withdraw from the project.
His decision appears to have been based as much on the importance of Mohanlal to his story as on the respect he believes the actor deserves. Jude has previously worked with Mohanlal’s family through Thudakkam, which marked the acting debut of Mohanlal’s daughter Vismaya Mohanlal, making the filmmaker’s connection to the actor’s family another part of his career.
After deciding to exit, Jude said he also made sure the production house signed a non-disclosure agreement. That means details about the proposed project and the negotiations around it remain limited, with the filmmaker now revealing only the circumstances that led to his departure.
The project itself was never completed under Jude’s direction, at least according to the account he has now shared. Ayushmann Khurrana had been attached to the proposed Hindi film, while Mohanlal’s involvement was something Jude wanted secured before taking the screenplay forward.
The episode highlights one of the challenges that can arise when a filmmaker’s creative priorities meet a production house’s approach to casting. For Jude, the issue was not simply about putting a major star’s name on a project. He believed Mohanlal’s character was important enough to the story that the actor’s participation needed to be treated accordingly from the beginning.
Jude Anthany Joseph’s Journey in Malayalam Cinema
Jude Anthany Joseph established himself as a filmmaker with Ohm Shanthi Oshaana, which marked his directorial debut in 2014. The film received critical appreciation and helped introduce Jude’s distinct storytelling approach to Malayalam audiences.
He followed it with Oru Muthassi Gadha in 2016 and later directed Sara’s in 2021. His career took a major commercial leap with 2018, the survival drama based around the devastating Kerala floods.
2018 became one of the biggest successes of Malayalam cinema, earning around ₹200 crore globally according to the figures provided in the source material. Its performance also helped reinforce Jude’s position as a filmmaker capable of handling stories that combine large-scale events with human experiences.
His connection to Mohanlal’s family continued through Thudakkam, which featured Vismaya Mohanlal in her acting debut. That project gave Jude an opportunity to work with a member of the veteran actor’s family, although the proposed Ayushmann Khurrana project would have represented a much more direct collaboration between Jude and Mohanlal himself.
The proposed Hindi film could therefore have been another significant step in Jude’s career, particularly because he had reportedly been approached by production houses from multiple industries. Instead, the director chose to leave when the casting discussion no longer aligned with what he wanted for the project.
Jude’s account also underlines how strongly he views the relationship between an actor and a character. In his telling, Mohanlal was not simply a name he wanted attached to the film for commercial reasons. The actor was part of the creative vision from the early stages, and Jude was unwilling to continue without clarity on his participation.
Whether the project eventually returns in another form remains unclear from the information available here. What is clear is that Jude’s version of events turns what might otherwise have been an abandoned film into an interesting glimpse at how filmmakers negotiate casting, creative control and the status of established actors.
For now, the proposed Ayushmann Khurrana film remains a project that Jude walked away from. His decision was ultimately driven by a disagreement over how Mohanlal’s role was being treated, and the filmmaker has made it clear that he was not comfortable continuing under those circumstances.
Jude Anthany Joseph and Mohanlal Q&A
Why did Jude Anthany Joseph quit the Ayushmann Khurrana film?
Jude says he walked away after the production house referred to Mohanlal as a “secondary artist” during discussions about casting. He considered Mohanlal’s character important to the story and wanted his participation confirmed.
Was Mohanlal supposed to have an important role?
Yes. According to Jude, Mohanlal’s character was an important part of the proposed story. The filmmaker therefore made confirmation of Mohanlal’s casting a condition for completing the screenplay.
What did the production house tell Jude about casting?
According to Jude, they told him, “First, we need to like the script. Only then will we think about the secondary artists.” He said the wording upset him and ultimately contributed to his decision to leave.
Who was supposed to star in the Hindi film?
Ayushmann Khurrana was attached to the proposed Hindi film. Jude said he chose to develop the project with Khurrana because he considered it “a proper Bollywood film.”
What did Jude do after leaving the project?
Jude said he eventually involved his lawyer and withdrew from the project. He also revealed that he made the production house sign a non-disclosure agreement.
Which films has Jude Anthany Joseph directed?
Jude made his directorial debut with Ohm Shanthi Oshaana in 2014. His filmography also includes Oru Muthassi Gadha, Sara’s and 2018, which became a major commercial success.
