Did Fahadh Faasil Turn Down the Role Played by Riz Ahmed in Tom Cruise’s Digger?

Tom Cruise’s upcoming film Digger has become one of Hollywood’s most talked-about projects after the release of its first trailer, with audiences praising the star’s dramatic new look. Amid the growing buzz, an old interview featuring Malayalam actor Fahadh Faasil has resurfaced online, reigniting discussions about a missed Hollywood opportunity.

While promoting Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira (OKCK) in an interview with film critic Maneesh Narayanan, Fahadh opened up about auditioning for a film directed by Academy Award-
winning filmmaker Alejandro G. Inarritu.

When asked whether he was interested in pursuing opportunities outside Indian cinema, Fahadh initially joked, “He didn’t like me, and I got rejected after the auditions.”

However, he quickly clarified that it wasn’t exactly a rejection. “It wasn’t exactly that he rejected me, but he was concerned about my accent. I was asked to stay in America for three to four months to work on it, and there was no payment involved. That’s why I stepped away from it because the commercial aspect didn’t make sense to me. I didn’t feel enough motivation to put in that much effort just to work on my accent,” Fahadh explained.

The actor also revealed that he had a video call with Iñárritu and felt the filmmaker may have realized during the conversation that he wasn’t the right fit for the role. Despite passing on the opportunity, Fahadh said he has no regrets. “All the magic in my career has happened through Malayalam cinema,” he added.

Was the Film Digger?

Although Fahadh never disclosed the name of the project, his comments have resurfaced following the release of the trailer for Digger, Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s latest directorial venture. The film stars Tom Cruise in the lead, alongside Jesse Plemons, Sandra Hüller, Riz Ahmed, and John Goodman, and is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release in 2
October 2026.

The timing has led many fans on social media to speculate that Riz Ahmed may have eventually played the role for which Fahadh originally auditioned. However, neither Fahadh Faasil nor the filmmakers have confirmed that Digger was the project in question.

Until an official confirmation is made, the connection between Fahadh’s audition and Digger remains purely speculative. Nevertheless, the resurfaced interview has sparked fresh interest among fans, who continue to wonder what might have happened had the acclaimed Malayalam actor accepted the opportunity.