Ajith Kumar and Shahrukh Khan are hailed as two of the biggest stars of Indian cinema today. Although their fan base spans different industries, many movie buffs are surprised to hear that the two actors actually co-starred in a film more than two decades ago. Ajit Also part of the cast of the ambitious historical drama ‘Ashoka’ starring Shah Rukh Khan in 2001. At a time when collaborations between major Tamil and Hindi stars were uncommon, their coming together created a lot of excitement among audiences across the country.
How director Santosh Sivan brought the two stars together
The film was directed by acclaimed filmmaker and cinematographer Santosh Sivan, who envisioned ‘Ashoka’ as a grand re-enactment of Emperor Ashoka’s journey. Shahrukh Khan not only played the lead role but also co-produced the project. Ajith came on board to play Sushima Maurya, Ashok’s elder half-brother and rival. Although it was not a central role, Ajith’s presence added strength to the story. For Tamil cinema fans, it was a proud moment to see one of their leading stars sharing important scenes with Bollywood’s biggest superstar in such a large-scale production.
Ajith’s performance left a lasting impression on the fans
‘Ashoka’ stars Shah Rukh Khan as a warrior prince who eventually becomes Emperor Ashoka, while Ajith plays an equally powerful character who stands in his way. The two actors together add a lot of drama to the film and give the audience two contrasting performances. Although the film was not a huge commercial success in India, it was well received. Over the years, the film has developed a cult following and Ajith’s appearance is one of the most talked about aspects among his fans.
A film that fans still celebrate today
After more than 25 years, the memory of Ajith and Shah Rukh Khan sharing screen space continues to excite movie buffs. Among a generation of films that have a pan-Indian touch, ‘Ashoka’ is definitely a film that has come too soon. Many of its fans always go down memory lane recalling scenes from the movie, thinking how interesting it would be if the two actors did another film together. Regardless of whether it materializes or not, it is a unique story in the annals of Indian film history.
