Nihar Kapoor, son of veteran actress Jayasudha, has revealed that he was almost part of the epic film Baahubali. In a recent interview, he shared that he was considered for a major role in the blockbuster but missed the chance due to unexpected changes.
At one point, Rana Daggubati, who played the powerful villain Bhallaladeva, was unavailable due to scheduling issues. The film’s team then approached Nihar for the role. He accepted and even underwent four weeks of training. However, Rana’s dates later cleared, and the role was given back to him.
The filmmakers then offered Nihar the role of Kaalakeya, the fierce tribal leader. But when he learnt that the character required full prosthetic makeup, which would cover his entire face, he hesitated. He discussed the offer with his mother, Jayasudha, who advised against it, saying, “If your face isn’t visible in your first film, the audience won’t recognise you.”
Following her advice, Nihar decided not to take the role. The part eventually went to actor Prabhakar, who made a strong impression on screen. Nihar admitted that the final look and performance were impressive, but he has no regrets about turning it down.
He said that working with S.S. Rajamouli, even briefly, was a special experience. “He spoke to me directly and treated me with respect. I even visited the set later just for fun. It’s a memory I’ll always cherish,” Nihar added.
Baahubali, known for its grand visuals and gripping story, starred Prabhas, Anushka Shetty, Rana Daggubati, Ramya Krishnan, and Sathyaraj.
The casting process, it turns out, had many unexpected twists. Big names like Suriya and Sridevi were also considered for key roles but couldn’t be part of the project.
Even today, stories from behind the scenes continue to interest fans of this legendary film.
