# Every Actor in Om Was Plan A — Director Rajkumar Periasamy Reveals All

URL: https://technosports.co.in/every-actor-in-om-was-plan-a-director/  
Published: 2026-08-29  
Updated: 2026-08-29  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

Dream casts usually happen by accident — someone drops out, a replacement gets found, and it somehow works. *Om Chapter 1: Udhiram – The Blood Wood* skipped that whole process entirely. According to director Rajkumar Periasamy, **every single actor was his first choice**, and every one of them said yes on the first pitch.

## Om: No Backup Plans Needed

Speaking to Variety India, Periasamy revealed that Mammootty was literally his very first pick — cast as Karthikeyan before anyone else was locked in. From there, the pattern repeated: [Dhanush](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhanush), Indrans, Naseeruddin Shah, Sai Pallavi, and Sreeleela all came on board exactly as he’d envisioned.

![Om](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Rajkum.avif)

| Cast Member | Role Status |
| --- | --- |
| Mammootty | First choice — cast as Karthikeyan |
| Dhanush | First choice — lead role |
| Sai Pallavi | First choice |
| Sreeleela | First choice |
| Naseeruddin Shah | First choice — marks Tamil comeback after 26 years |
| Indrans | First choice |

## Why the Film Took So Long

Periasamy also addressed the elephant in the room: South Indian films, this one included, keep getting delayed. He pointed to a few honest, unglamorous reasons — post-production simply needing more time, actors’ shifting schedules, and location permissions falling through. He also flagged a structural issue: too many big films chase the same release windows, and with a limited number of screens, someone always has to step aside.

## Release Date and the Clash Ahead

*Om Chapter 1* is now locked for **October 16, 2026** — one day after Rajinikanth’s *Jailer 2*, setting up a direct box-office face-off between two of Tamil cinema’s biggest names. The film is also planned as the first of a two-part franchise, with music by Sai Abhyankkar.

For more updates on South Indian cinema and upcoming release clashes, check out the entertainment coverage on [TechnoSports](https://technosports.co.in/).

### FAQs

### **When does Om Chapter 1: Udhiram – The Blood Wood release?**

 It’s scheduled for October 16, 2026, a day after Rajinikanth’s *Jailer 2* hits theaters.

### **Were any actors replaced during the making of Om?**

No — director Rajkumar Periasamy confirmed every actor, from Mammootty to Dhanush, was his original first choice.