Jude Anthany Joseph Reveals He Walked Out Of Ayushmann Khurrana Film After Producers Called Mohanlal Secondary Artist

Malayalam filmmaker Jude Anthany Joseph recently opened up about leaving an Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer film midway through discussions. Jude shared that he chose to walk out of the project after his demand to confirm Mohanlal's role in the film was taken lightly. The Malayalam superstar was also referred to as a 'secondary artist' by the production house, a description Jude found insulting to 'one of the finest actors in the country.'

While speaking to Club FM, the Thudakkam director said that he was approached by several production houses across film industrues like Tamil, Telugu for his story, but he chose to develop it with Ayushmann Khurrana as he called the project ‘a proper Bollywood film’. He said he had also developed the basic script for the proposed Hindi film before approaching the production house.

He shared that Mohanlal had an important character in the story, but the production house wanted him to complete the screenplay before committing to any casting. “The basic script was almost complete. We had also discussed the story with the production house. At that time, Lal sir had a role in the story. It was an important role. However, they asked me to complete the screenplay first. At that point, I put forward a demand to them. I told them that I could complete the script, but my condition was that Lal sir should be confirmed for the project.”

However, their choice of words was what rubbed Jude the wrong way. He said, “They responded by saying, ‘First, we need to like the script. Only then will we think about the secondary artists.’” Jude admitted that he was unhappy with Mohanlal being called a 'secondary artist' by the production house. This was the reason he decided to walk away from the project.

Jude shared that he eventually brought his lawyer into the matter and withdrew from the project. In the end, he also revealed that he made the production house sign a non-disclosure agreement.

Jude made his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed Ohm Shanthi Oshaana in 2014. He went on to direct films such as Oru Muthassi Gadha (2016) and Sara's (2021) and short film No Go Tell. His film, 2018, received positive reviews and was a massive hit, grossing around ₹200 crore. His film Thudakkam (2016) marked the acting debut of Mohanlal's daughter Vismaya Mohanlal.

Vibha Maru is an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times Entertainment, based in Delhi. With a decade of experience across digital and print media, she covers Bollywood, Hollywood and web shows. A self-confessed cinephile who breathes Hindi cinema, Vibha can often be found sacrificing sleep after binge-watching films and web series. Though she holds a Commerce degree, she discovered her true calling in journalism after enrolling at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). She began her career covering Delhi's cultural scene, food, nightlife, concerts, and city life at The Times of India, before moving into full-time entertainment journalism with India Today. At India Today, Vibha interviewed some of the biggest names in Bollywood and television while carving a niche for herself through film reviews, opinion pieces, nostalgic features, celebrity interviews, and trend-driven stories. She later brought her storytelling and editorial expertise to The Indian Express, where she continued to deepen her understanding of cinema through long-form entertainment explainers, retrospectives and feature writing. Now, as Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times Entertainment, Vibha continues to chronicle the world of movies and pop culture. Her work spans breaking entertainment news, exclusive interviews, celebrity features, and stories that capture the conversations shaping Indian cinema.Read More