When Sameera Reddy Was Dropped From This Movie And Replaced By A Singer

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In 2001, the Tamil movie Citizen, a political action thriller, stirred a storm at the box office.

In 2001, the Tamil political action thriller Citizen created waves at the box office, leaving a lasting impact on Ajith Kumar’s illustrious career. Directed by Saravana Subbiah and produced by SS Chakravarthy, the film featured Ajith Kumar in dual roles, supported by Meena, Vasundhara Das, and Nagma. The music for the movie was composed by Deva. Interestingly, the film marked the transformation of a singer into an actress.

Citizen played a pivotal role in shaping Ajith Kumar’s career, earning both commercial success and critical acclaim. Known for his dual roles in many films, Ajith underwent a significant physical transformation for this intense role. Initially, the lead actress role was offered to Sameera Reddy. However, due to language barriers – Sameera did not know Tamil, and the director was unfamiliar with Hindi – she was replaced. Subsequently, the role went to Vasundhara Das, a renowned singer who had previously gained recognition for her roles in Kamal Haasan’s Hey Ram and her hit songs like Pookara Pookara and I Like You.

The collaboration between the director, actor, and singer marked a unique blend of talents. Vasundhara Das, in addition to her singing prowess, demonstrated her acting skills in Citizen, receiving positive feedback for her performance. The director believed that she was the perfect match for Ajith Kumar in the film. Despite not being an exceptional dancer, Vasundhara dedicated herself to the role, undergoing dance lessons to enhance her performance.

Following her debut in Citizen, Vasundhara Das ventured into various film industries, including Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, and others. She continued to make a mark as an actress and singer, earning accolades for her versatile talents. Notably, her rendition of the song Shakalaka Baby from the film Mudhalvan earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil.

While the collaboration between the director and actor for another project did not materialize, Citizen remains a significant milestone in Ajith Kumar’s career and introduced Vasundhara Das as a multi-talented artist in the world of cinema.