Following the blockbuster success of ‘Jawan’ with Shah Rukh Khan, acclaimed director Atlee is gearing up to team up with another Bollywood megastar, Salman Khan. This exciting collaboration marks a significant shift for Atlee as he dives into his next Bollywood venture, leaving behind his initial plans to work with Telugu superstar Allu Arjun. Despite preliminary discussions and mutual interest, Atlee and Allu Arjun could not finalize their project, with reports citing Atlee’s substantial paycheck as a sticking point for Geetha Arts, the production house owned by Allu Arjun’s father, Allu Aravind.
With Allu Arjun’s chapter momentarily closed, Atlee pivoted his focus towards Salman Khan, who recently made waves with ‘Tiger 3’. Upon hearing Atlee’s new pitch, Salman Khan was impressed and readily agreed to the collaboration. Industry insiders confirm that Sun Pictures, a prominent production house, will back this high-anticipated project. While specific details about the script and premise remain under wraps, expectations are sky-high given Atlee’s track record of delivering high-octane entertainment.
Currently, Atlee is dedicating his time to finalizing the script, with official announcements expected to follow soon. Filming is projected to commence next year, aligning with Salman Khan’s busy schedule. The superstar is presently engrossed in the production of ‘Sikandar’, under the direction of A.R. Murugadoss, renowned for his work on the Aamir Khan-starrer ‘Ghajini’. ‘Sikandar’ is slated for an Eid 2025 release, with its production wrapping up by March 2025, providing a clear window for Salman to dive into the Atlee project subsequently.
.
While Atlee and Salman Khan’s future collaboration generates buzz, another significant development in Indian cinema is the postponement of Allu Arjun’s much-awaited ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’. Originally set for an August 15, 2024 release, the sequel has been deferred to ensure the completion of intricate VFX work. This delay has opened up the coveted Independence Day release slot, prompting several Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi films to reposition their release dates to capitalize on the now-vacant holiday.
Reports from Pinkvilla reveal insights from sources close to the ‘Pushpa 2’ team, confirming the film’s rescheduled release. “The discussions about delaying Pushpa have been an ongoing concern as the production team raced against time to finish shoots and finalize edits for the planned August release. It’s only recently that a definitive decision to delay was reached, with an official announcement on the new release date expected imminently,” disclosed the source.
This delay has led the film’s key players—Allu Arjun, director Sukumar, and production house Mythri Movie Makers—to consider alternative release windows including Dussehra 2024, December 2024, and Pongal 2025. Given the current production pace and remaining post-production efforts, the most plausible new release window appears to be December 2024, echoing the release timeline of ‘Pushpa: The Rise’, which hit screens on December 17, 2021. This strategic move aims to replicate the success of its predecessor by leveraging the festive December season.
For fans eagerly awaiting ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’, this delay, although disheartening, comes with the reassurance of a polished final product enriched with cutting-edge visual effects, promising a cinematic spectacle that aims to surpass the original.
Thus, as Atlee prepares to embark on his new venture with Salman Khan, and Allu Arjun gears up for the release of ‘Pushpa 2’ at a later date, the landscape of Indian cinema continues to evolve, offering audiences a mix of fresh collaborations and highly anticipated sequels. The coming years promise a dynamic and exciting period for film enthusiasts, with big names and bigger stories set to grace the silver screen.
