The biopic of Sri Lankan cricketing giant Muttiah Muralitharan titled '800'was announced earlier this month with a motion poster showing Vijay Sethupathi completely transformed as his character. However due to severe backlash from Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil Nadu politicians and several Kollywood bigwigs including Bharathiraja, Murali himself requested Vijay Sethupathi to opt-out of the film.

Meanwhile, interesting info has come up that the team of '800'. had first approached Dhanush to play the role of Muralitharan who predicting the political issues surrounding it declined the offer.

Theejay who played Dhanush's son in 'Asuran' and Ken Karunaas were also approached to play the younger version of Murali but they too refused the offers,. Anyways Muralitharan in his statement has said that the project will continue and it remains to be seen who will be donning his role if and when it takes off.