In 2020, a biopic on Sri Lankan legendary cricketer Muttiah Muralidharan was announced. Titled 800, this film was supposed to feature Vijay Sethupathi in the lead role. Even a first look poster featuring Sethupathi as Muralidharan was released by the makers. But it was later shelved after speaking a controversy among Tamilians. Now, it is being heard that Slumdog Millionaire fame Dev Patel will play the lead role in this movie.
MS Sripathy is the director of 800. When the first look poster with Sethupathi was released, several Tamilians objected to him in doing the film because of Muralidharan's support to Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Rajapakshe's Anti-Tamil stand. When protests were made against him, Sethupathi pulled out of the film. Everyone assumed that the movie is shelved later on.
According to the latest buzz, the makers haven't shelved the film and have approached another actor to essay the role. Apparently, Dev Patel has been approached to do the role. Apart from Slumdog, Dev acted in several other Hollywood films like Lion, The Wedding Guest and The Green Knight.