Ajith Kumar and Shah Rukh Khan are hailed as two of the biggest stars in Indian cinema today. Although their fan bases come from different industries, many movie fans are surprised to hear that the two actors actually starred in a movie together more than two decades ago. Ajit In 2001, Asoka, an ambitious historical drama starring Shah Rukh Khan, was also on the cast. Collaborations between big Tamil and Hindi stars were uncommon at the time, but theirs excited audiences across the country.
How director Santosh Sivan brought two stars together
The film is directed by renowned filmmaker and cinematographer Santosh Sivan, who envisioned Ashoka as a grand retelling of Ashoka’s journey. Shah Rukh Khan not only stars but also co-produces the project. Ajith has been roped in to play Ashoka’s half-brother and rival Sushma Maurya. Although Ajith is not a central character, his presence adds strength to the story. It is a proud moment for Tamil film fans to see one of their leading stars sharing important scenes with Bollywood’s biggest superstars in such a massive production.
Ajith’s performance impressed fans
In Ashoka, Shah Rukh Khan plays the role of the warrior prince who eventually becomes Ashoka, while Ajith plays an equally strong character who stands in his way. The two actors working together added a lot of drama to the film and gave the audience two completely different performances. Although the film was not a huge commercial success in India, it was popular. The film has gained a cult following over the years and Ajith’s appearance remains one of the most discussed aspects among his fans.
A film that is still celebrated by fans today
More than 25 years later, the memory of Ajith and Shah Rukh Khan sharing screen space continues to thrill movie lovers. In a generation of pan-Indian films, Ashoka is definitely a film that came too soon. Many fans will always recall the scene from the movie and think how fun it would be if the two actors collaborated in another movie. Whether it comes to fruition or not, this is a unique story in the history of Indian cinema.
