Actor Karunas has opened up about a career decision that still stands out in his film journey. The actor revealed that he was initially approached to play the lead in Vetri Maaran’s Asuran, but he chose to step away from the opportunity. Looking back, Karunas said the decision came from his belief that the story needed an actor with a strong hero image to reach a wider audience.
Karunas says he missed ‘Asuran’ despite the lead role offer
Speaking about the project in an interview with Behindwoods, Karunas said, “I was supposed to act in Asuran along with my son. Vetri Maaran was ready to make the film with me. I read the story and immediately told him, ‘Sir, this will work only if a hero acts in it. I won’t act.’” He recalled that Vetri Maaran was willing to take the film forward with him, but Karunas felt that choosing a more established lead would benefit the project. His decision eventually paved the way for Dhanush to take up the role.
The actor explains why he asked Vetri Maaran to choose a hero
Karunas further recalled his conversation with the director. “I told him the story was excellent and that if someone with a hero image played the lead, the film would work better commercially. I am someone who thinks about the nature of a film before deciding. If Vetri Maaran is directing, who would let that opportunity go?” He added that the director had assured him that he knew how to make the film with Karunas, but the actor remained firm about his decision.
‘Asuran’ went on to become a National Award-winning film
Released in 2019, ‘Asuran’ starred Dhanush, Manju Warrier, Ken Karunas, and Pasupathy, with music by GV Prakash Kumar. The film was based on writer Poomani’s novel Vekkai and received strong praise for its story and performances. It later won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film at the 67th National Film Awards. For Karunas, the film remains a notable missed opportunity, but he maintains that his decision came from staying honest to what he felt was right for the story. “If the character suits me, only then will I act in it. I believe I should be honest to cinema,” he said.
