Blockbuster Tamil filmmaker Atlee has announced his next big film in Bollywood and this time with actor Varun Dhawan cast in the lead role. The upcoming film will mark the hit director's debut as a producer in Hindi cinema and is also his second production venture overall after he bankrolled the 2017 Tamil horror comedy film Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae under his A for Apple Studios banner. Atlee is collaborating with producer Murad Khetani's Cine1 Studios for the Varun Dhawan-starrer, which will be directed by Tamil director Kalees of Kee fame.
Billed to be one of the biggest action entertainers in the making, Atlee's A for Apple Studios banner has also confirmed that the Varun Dhawan film under Kalees' direction will open in theatres worldwide on May 31, 2024. Sharing a photo of the Bhediya actor on Instagram, the production banner wrote, "@cine1studios and A For Apple Studios join hands to bring one the biggest action entertainers with @varundvn leading the cast. Written & Directed by @kalees_dir Produced by @muradkhetani and @priyaatlee Presented by @atlee47 The film is slated to release worldwide on May 31st 2024. (sic)"
With the confirmation of Atlee bankrolling his next with Varun Dhawan now out, speculations are doing the rounds on social media that the film will likely be a Hindi remake of the filmmaker's 2016 Tamil blockbuster Theri, which had 'Thalapathy' Vijay playing the lead role as a police officer. Varun Dhawan will be looking to hit it big with his next after his 2022 comedy horror film Bhediya went on to become a phenomenal box office success, while also getting appreciation on the critical front. On the other hand, Atlee is awaiting the release of his own directorial debut in Hindi, Jawan, starring 'Bollywood Baadshah' Shah Rukh Khan, which is scheduled to release on September 7. Billed to be an action thriller, the Red Chillies Entertainment venture coming out in Tamil and Telugu languages as well also marks the Bollywood debut of 'Lady Superstar' Nayanthara, composer Anirudh Ravichander, cinematographer GK Vishnu and editor Ruben.