Actress Malavika Mohanan has shared a fascinating story of destiny and near-misses in her career, revealing how she almost starred in the blockbuster 'Salaar' before finally landing a role opposite Prabhas in the upcoming film 'The Raja Saab'. In a candid conversation, she detailed her journey, expressing a firm belief that everything unfolded as it was meant to be.
The Salaar Opportunity That Slipped Away
Malavika Mohanan recounted that shortly after the release of her film 'Master', she received an exciting call. Director Prashanth Neel, who was preparing for a major project with superstar Prabhas, wanted to meet her. She traveled to Bengaluru for the meeting, where Neel himself took casual photographs of her in both Indian and western attire to gauge her look for the film, which was later titled 'Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire'.
The actress admitted she felt incredibly positive and hopeful after the meeting. "Everything felt right at that moment," she reflected. The prospect of working with a filmmaker of Neel's caliber and a pan-India star like Prabhas was a thrilling opportunity. However, despite the promising start, the collaboration did not materialize. Malavika expressed feeling initially disappointed, acknowledging that such chances are rare.
Destiny's Call for The Raja Saab
In a twist of fate, destiny had another plan. A few months after the 'Salaar' talks fell through, Malavika received another call for a Prabhas film. Puzzled, she reminded them that she thought that project was already cast. To her surprise, she learned this was for a different movie altogether – 'The Raja Saab'. This revelation made her see the hand of fate in her career trajectory.
"I feel like it was destiny that my debut had to be with Prabhas sir," Malavika stated, referring to her first collaboration with the actor. She now views the initial setback with 'Salaar' as a necessary detour that ultimately led her to the right project at the right time.
Celebrating the Collaboration at the Pre-Release Event
The bond forged on set was evident at the pre-release event for 'The Raja Saab'. A joyful Malavika Mohanan took the stage and addressed the fans and her co-star with heartfelt emotion. She greeted the audience with affectionate nicknames for Prabhas, saying, "Fans ki aayna, Darling! Fans ki aayna, Rebel God! Naaku maatram, Raja Sahib!"
She publicly praised Prabhas, calling him one of the sweetest people she has ever worked with. "Prabhas sir, it has been an absolute honour sharing the screen with you and getting to know you as a person," she expressed with gratitude. In return, Prabhas complimented her warmly, noting her tall stature, beauty, and beautiful eyes.
The film 'The Raja Saab', starring Prabhas and Malavika Mohanan, is scheduled for a grand release on January 9, 2026, coinciding with the Sankranti festival. For Malavika, the journey to this point, marked by an unexpected turn with 'Salaar', now feels perfectly aligned. She concludes that life, in its own mysterious way, moved her in the right direction.
