For over a year, Bollywood and South Indian cinema enthusiasts have been buzzing with excitement over a potential mega-budget collaboration between celebrated Tamil filmmaker Atlee Kumar and Bollywood superstar Salman Khan. The film, which was expected to be a grand-scale period drama with a reincarnation theme, had Sun Pictures as its backing studio and was envisioned as a massive cinematic event on par with Hollywood’s biggest productions. However, recent developments have led to the project being put on the back burner, shifting industry speculation to what went wrong and what lies ahead.
During his interview while promoting Baby John starring Varun Dhawan which he had produced Atlee confirmed that his next is with Salman Khan. To Pinkvilla he said “Definitely, I am going to surprise everyone with the casting. What you are thinking, yes (that’s true). But you are going to really get surprised. And I am not being pompous, but it’s going to be the proudest film of our country. We want a lot of blessings, just pray for us. The casting is on the edge and it’s going to happen in a few weeks. We will have the best best best announcement coming soon to you all.” Varun also added that “It’s going to be out of this world, people don’t know what’s going to hit them. I have heard and seen a little bit of visualization. It’s unbelievable what he is putting together. He is working relentlessly, quietly, and humbly.”
How It All Began
Atlee, known for his blockbuster success Jawan with Shah Rukh Khan, had been in advanced discussions with Salman Khan for a two-hero film. The project, internally referred to as #A6, was meant to be a high-budget period spectacle, with Sun Pictures investing over Rs 650 crores to create a film of unprecedented scale. The intent was clear—bring together two of India’s biggest film industries, Bollywood and the South, to ensure widespread reach and high profitability.
Early on, Atlee and Sun Pictures had hoped to rope in a Tamil megastar—either Rajinikanth or Kamal Haasan—to play the parallel lead alongside Salman. Their presence was crucial to making the film a true pan-Indian spectacle, with significant box office pull across both in North India and South India and thereby enabling a massive Rs 650 crore budget.
The idea was simple: if the North was secured with Salman Khan, the South needed an equally legendary presence to maximize revenue through digital, satellite, and theatrical markets.
The Roadblocks Begin
Despite months of negotiations, things didn’t materialize as planned. Kamal Haasan was reportedly hesitant about taking up the role, especially as it required him to play Salman Khan’s father, something he wasn’t comfortable with. Meanwhile, Rajinikanth had prior commitments, including Coolie with Lokesh Kanagaraj and Jailer 2, which blocked his dates till at least 2026.
With both Tamil superstars out of the picture, Atlee and Sun Pictures scoured the industry for a suitable replacement. However, they struggled to find a South Indian superstar with the same market value who could bring in significant revenue from the southern states.
Attempts to Go Global
As their search for a South Indian superstar stalled, the team explored international casting options. One of the names that emerged was Hollywood action star Sylvester Stallone. However, discussions quickly fell through due to financial constraints. Another name floated in speculative reports was Will Smith, but negotiations never advanced beyond preliminary talks.
With no viable second lead and growing logistical challenges, the makers faced an impasse. Despite the grand vision for the film and with Salman on board Sun Pictures = decided to put the project on hold.
Where Does the Project Stand Now?
With A6 effectively shelved for the time being, Atlee has moved on to another ambitious project, this time with Telugu superstar Allu Arjun. While official paperwork is still pending, sources confirm that Allu Arjun has given his nod in principle, and the film is expected to go on floors soon. To many it felt that Allu Arjun’s film is actually the same Salman Khan film with South star stepping into Bhai’s shoes after the super success of Pushpa 2. But reports stated that both films are different.
Unlike the stalled A6 project, the current film is being developed from the outset as a South-led production, making its feasibility stronger. Sun Pictures remains the primary production house, and the budget is estimated to be around Rs 600 crore. The film, rumored to be a period saga with a reincarnation theme, is set to be one of Atlee’s most visually spectacular ventures yet. It will feature three leading heroines, with Janhvi Kapoor being a top contender for one of the roles.
The Future of Atlee and Salman Khan’s Collaboration
Despite the current setbacks, industry insiders suggest that Atlee and Salman Khan are still keen to collaborate in the future. The director and production house are open to revisiting the A6 project once a suitable South Indian lead is found. However, given the logistical and financial complexities, it might take a few years before the project can be revived in a form that satisfies all parties involved. Atlee, known for his penchant for large-scale commercial entertainers, remains a filmmaker in high demand. His immediate focus is now on bringing his vision to life with Allu Arjun, aiming to create a pan-India blockbuster that could rival the success of Jawan and Pushpa.
Meanwhile, the talk in the trade circle doing the rounds is about can’t Salman Khan who has delivered some of the biggest hits of Indian Cinema be it Tiger Zinda Hai or Sultan or the evergreen Hum Aapke Hai Kaun shoulder a Rs 650 budget film? Didn’t Shah Rukh Khan who was on a sabbatical for 4 years and returned to movies with Pathaan in 2023 delivered a Rs 600 crore hit film in Jawan and that too when Atlee was making his debut with Jawan? And also when Allu Arjun who has delivered a Rs 1200 crore hit film with Pushpa 2 – has become a more viable option for makers over Salman Khan to greenlit a Rs 600 crore film .At one level it seems some interested parties were keen on announcing the project without doing the due diligence and get every party on board. In the meantime Salman Khan is gearing up for his Eid release with Sajid Nadiadwala and AR Murgadoss’s Sikandar, releasng on 30th March. The teaser of the film has received a good response from the audience and even the first song ‘Zohra Jabeen‘ has already begun to trend. The film also features Rashmika Mandanna and Sathyaraj ( Kattappa of Baahubali fame) in pivotal roles.
