In 2008, an entire generation of moviegoers was left reeling after stepping into theatres and learning that Kalpana, portrayed by Asin in ‘Ghajini,’ died without ever knowing the true identity of her lover, Sanjay Singhania (played by Aamir Khan). For millennials who revel in the thrill of commercial cinema, this is a lingering emotional scar. Numerous Instagram Reels express the sentiment that Kalpana’s death, unaware of who Sanjay truly was, is the most heartbreaking twist for his character.

In a recent encounter with IANS, director A.R. Murugadoss opened up about this poignant moment as he prepared for the release of his upcoming film, ‘Sikandar,’ starring Salman Khan. When asked about this pivotal scene, the director analyzed how the hidden realities fueled Sanjay’s quest for vengeance and set the stage for a gripping revenge narrative.

“While writing the script, I pondered, ‘What if Kalpana discovers Sanjay’s true identity? What impact would that have?’ I realized that revealing this information would dilute the intensity of Sanjay’s revenge against Ghajini,” Murugadoss shared. In the film, Kalpana even lends Sanjay money before meeting her gruesome fate at the hands of Ghajini, a gesture that profoundly affects Aamir’s character. The director strategically employed Kalpana’s innocence to amplify the audience’s emotional connection.

He added, “Sanjay had so much to reveal to her, but he couldn’t because Kalpana died before he had the chance. Additionally, his short-term memory loss following the tragedy intensified his drive for vengeance.” Murugadoss intriguingly flipped the narrative, questioning, “If Kalpana had learned about Aamir’s character, we might not even be discussing this scene today. It’s been 16 years since the film’s release, and yet it still resonates, which I consider a testament to effective storytelling.”

A.R. Murugadoss has collaborated with some of the biggest stars in Indian cinema, including Ajith Kumar in ‘Dheena,’ Chiranjeevi in ‘Stalin,’ and both Suriya and Aamir Khan in ‘Ghajini’ (in Tamil and Hindi), as well as Thalapathy Vijay in ‘Thuppakki’ and Akshay Kumar in ‘Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty.’ Now, he is teaming up with Salman Khan and Rashmika Mandanna for ‘Sikandar.’

While having such a prestigious filmography is undoubtedly impressive, working with megastars comes with its own set of challenges. Murugadoss explained, “When directing superstars, we have a responsibility to satisfy not only their fans but also the business aspect. We can’t mislead the audience; nor can we stick to the usual formula. It’s important to tailor the storytelling to suit their styles while presenting it in a fresh way. This requires careful dialogue crafting and concise communication before we start to shoot.”

Additionally, he discussed his approach to action sequences, stating, “When preparing an action scene, we must consider the motivations behind it—whether the hero is fighting for a family member or a friend. Each scenario influences how the action is portrayed. The timing of these sequences is also crucial; for instance, placing a climax fight too early can lessen its impact. Properly setting the mood is vital because even a simple gesture can carry weight in the right context.”

“As a writer-director, I invest considerable time into understanding my characters, sometimes spending as long as six months to a year developing the narrative before the actors join the project. I visualize how each character would behave, which allows me to guide any deviations that may arise,” he added.

Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, ‘Sikandar’ is set to hit theatres on March 28.