The cinematic landscape of India is witnessing an intriguing trend, with notable Bollywood actors showing a keen interest in collaborating with acclaimed directors from the southern film industry. Piquing this interest is the versatile Ranveer Singh, who after engaging talks with Nelson Dileepkumar, the helmer of the much-anticipated Jailer (2023), is now reportedly eyeing a partnership with a celebrated filmmaker known for his work with superstar Rajinikanth.
In a turn that signals the appeal of cross-regional storytelling, Ranveer Singh is purportedly considering a role under the direction of Pa Ranjith—iconic for directing Kabali (2016) and Kaala (2018)—in a biopic celebrating the life of tribal leader and Indian freedom fighter, Birsa Munda. The biographical project, which has been in the script development phase for the past few years, aims to start production by the end of the current year. While Singh has shown an affinity for the narrative, he has yet to officially sign on.
Singh isn’t alone in his southern trajectory. Sidharth Malhotra, another illustrious name in Bollywood, is believed to be in final talks with Jeethu Joseph, the Malayalam filmmaker behind the hit Drishyam series, for a thriller feature. Before this, there’s speculation about Malhotra joining forces with a non-Hindi director on a BR Films project, a thriller laced with international intrigue about African diamonds, leaving industry insiders abuzz with curiosity.
Arjun Kapoor, no stranger to big-screen theatrics, is set to unveil a new dimension of villainy as Danger Lanka in Rohit Shetty’s Singham Again. The moniker, heavy with implications, promises a reveal worthy of the wait until the film’s release. This third installment in the Singham saga brings back a formidable cast that includes Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, and Ranveer Singh, with dynamic additions like Deepika Padukone and Tiger Shroff.
Making a segue from the silver screen to the digital domain, director Aanand L Rai is prepping for his maiden voyage into the streaming world, intent on weaving romance and drama—a deviation from the prevailing torrent of thrillers and mysteries. This year, he’s also anticipated to release Tere Ishq Mein with star actor Dhanush.
From the realm of athletes to actors comes Seerat Mast, who embodies the role of Indian Air Force pilot Naina Jaisingh in Fighter. Emulating Deepika Padukone, Mast switched from being a competitive squash player due to an injurious detour to lighting up movie theaters with her performances.
Concurrently, Prithviraj Sukumaran has the audience intrigued with his nefarious role in the upcoming release Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, while working diligently on his directorial, L2: Empuraan. This sequel to the successful Lucifer promises to elevate the cinematic landscape with its global shoots and audience anticipation.
On the power-packed front, Kick 2 has been christened by Salman Khan, director AR Murugadoss, and producer Sajid Nadiadwala as the follow-up to 2014’s Kick—circumventing any parallels to the Telugu sequel. This film is scheduled to commence shooting this May.
In TV land, Pyaar Ka Pehla Naam Radha Mohan is marching towards a narrative leap of seven years. Manit Joura enters the drama as Yug, a media titan whose perfection comes shrouded in mystery. Joura hints at a poised unveiling of the character’s complexities in future episodes.
These emerging partnerships between Bollywood talent and southern cinema’s visionary directors reveal an evolving film industry ripe with cross-cultural narratives, showcasing a unified pan-Indian cinematic language that transcends regional barriers.
