Lal Salaam, directed by Aishwarya Rajinikanth and produced by Lyca Productions, was pitched as a powerful sports drama weaving together cricket and communal harmony.
With Vishnu Vishal and Vikranth in the lead roles and Superstar Rajinikanth making what was initially promoted as a cameo, expectations were high. However, the film ended up as one of the year’s biggest flops, grossing just ₹18 crores worldwide.
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In a surprising post-release revelation, lead actor Vishnu Vishal has spoken out about the creative shifts behind the scenes that he believes contributed to the film’s downfall. In a recent interview, he candidly shared:
“Initially, I was the hero of Lal Salaam. Rajinikanth sir was supposed to do only a cameo. But later, that changed, and he appeared throughout the movie. My role was reduced. We thought audiences would love to see more of Rajini sir, but unfortunately, that became the reason for the movie’s big box office failure.”
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Vishnu’s remarks have sparked a heated debate online. While some accused him of indirectly blaming Rajinikanth for the film’s failure, others felt he was simply revealing how the original vision of the film was compromised in favor of star power.
Many critics of Lal Salaam had already noted that the film felt disjointed and lacked narrative focus. Rajinikanth’s character, Moideen Bhai, appeared to overshadow the core story instead of complementing it.
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His extended screen time seemed to shift the film’s genre and tone — confusing the audience and weakening the intended messaging.
Vishnu Vishal’s honesty might earn the wrath of Rajinikanth fans, but it points to possible deeper issues of creative interference.
