The makers of ‘Thalaivi’, a biopic of Tamilnadu’s former chief minister and actress J Jayalalithaa, first approached NTR Jr to essay the role of his grandfather NT Rama Rao. But NTR declined to do the character. 

Jayalalithaa had acted opposite NT Rama Rao in a couple of films. Plus, NTR had a close friendship with MGR, Jayalalithaa’s political guru and companion. 

Buzz is that when NTR Jr politely refused to play his grand father’s role, the makers also approached Nandamuri Balakrishna but the senior actor too had turned down it. Balakrishna essayed his father’s role in ‘NTR: Kathanayakudu’ and ‘NTR: Mahanayakudu’, the two-part biopic of NT Rama Rao but the movies bombed at the box-office. 

It remains to be seen who would essay this role. ‘Thalaivi’ has Kangana Ranaut playing the role of Jayalalithaa and is directed by Vijay.