Salman Khan and Atlee's film delayed by Rajinikanth's schedule
What's the story
The much-anticipated collaboration between iconic Bollywood star Salman Khan and renowned director Atlee has reportedly been put on hold.
Unlike previous reports that blamed budgetary constraints, a new report by Pinkvilla cites Rajinikanth's packed schedule as the primary reason for this delay.
The project, referred to as A6, was envisioned as a two-hero venture requiring significant star power from both North and South India to justify its estimated ₹650 crore budget.
Casting hurdles
Casting challenges for 'A6' led to project delay
A source told Pinkvilla, "While Salman Khan okayed the film, Atlee and Sun Pictures were confident to rope in either Kamal Haasan or Rajinikanth for the film."
However, Haasan was reportedly reluctant to play Khan's father in A6.
Meanwhile, Rajinikanth's commitments to Coolie and Jailer 2 until early 2026 left him unavailable.
The source added that after these discussions fell through, finding a suitable replacement proved challenging due to limited options among senior superstars with significant market value.
Global search
'A6' team explored international casting options
The A6 team even eyed Hollywood actor Sylvester Stallone for a lead role, but financial negotiations fell through.
The source added, "The team is still exploring options of casting other international names and the process will take longer than usual due to complexities of contracts and other barriers."
Despite these setbacks, Atlee, Khan, and Sun Pictures are still keen to collaborate in the future.
Film details
'A6' envisioned as a groundbreaking period drama
Earlier reports had indicated A6 would be a historical drama with reincarnation elements, with a whopping ₹500cr budget.
A source told Bollywood Hungama, "Atlee is planning to make a never-seen-before world with the film."
The source added Khan was excited about this new venture and was preparing to lose weight for his role in A6.
However, the film has now been shelved due to casting issues and financial considerations.
New venture
Atlee's upcoming project with Allu Arjun
Meanwhile, director Atlee is said to be gearing up for his next big project with Pushpa 2 star Allu Arjun.
The film is expected to go on floors in mid-2025 after starting pre-production in April.
This will be the first collaboration between Arjun and Atlee.