Los Angeles, March 4 (IANS): Actor Liam Neeson, who stars in the action thriller film franchise "Taken", has revealed that initially, he thought that he would never be offered the role.

"What drew me to the original film, 'Taken', I read the script and I thought, I am never going to be offered this. Hollywood wouldn’t think of me. Luc Besson (writer) and EuropaCorp (production company) probably wouldn’t think of me for this guy that can fight, run, and kind of do all that stuff which I do like doing," Neeson said in a statement. 

"But I met Luc at the Shanghai Film Festival 10 years ago. We exchanged words, and push came to shove, I got offered it which I was thrilled!" he added. 

Neeson, who shared screen space with actor Forest Whitaker in "Taken 3", says he has "always been" a fan of him for "many years". 

"You know, there are no specific things. You’re in the company of a beautiful, wonderful actor; you just try to savour it in some way. That’s lovely when you’re with a special actor/actress, you know there’s a little chemistry fermenting there, you know," he said. 

"Taken 3" will make a double premiere on Star Movies in India on March 20.