Before the 'Two Big Ms' came, there was another immensely popular actor in Malayalam cinema, known for his ability to slip into diverse roles, whose name also starts with the 13th letter of the English alphabet. We are, of course, talking about actor Madhu, known for his roles in Malayalam cinema of the good old black and white cinema days as well. The actor said in a recent interview that he was supposed to be part of the cast for Lucifer, directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran and starring the filmmaker himself in a large ensemble cast, led by Mohanlal. However, before the shoot, the legendary actor had a fall and picked up a bruise. Speaking to Ginger Media Entertainments, the actor said, "I informed them that I could not start shoot on the agreed-on date with that face. They said that it is okay."

The team behind the political actioner told him that they would postpone the shoot by a couple of weeks until Madhu recovered, but the legend decided not to join the project because he considered his accident a divine sign for him to stop acting.

However, subsequently, the actor withdrew his retirement and came back to do another project, 2021's One, starring Mammootty as the Chief Minister of Kerala. Mammootty visited the legendary actor in person and invited him to play the role of a college principal in the film. "He was so adamant about me playing his character's guru, a college principal, in the film. He told me that he, alongside the film's director, producer, and writer, saw me in that role."

The actor agreed to do the film only on the condition that they shoot it at an adjacent location in Kannammoola, Thiruvananthapuram.

Mammootty is known for his admiration for the legendary actor. In multiple interviews, he described Madhu as the only superstar he has seen. When the actor turned 92 last year, Mammootty posted a photograph featuring him with the former and called him his "superstar".