Mumbai: Noted South film producer Allu Aravind has expressed a desire to make a sequel to superstar Aamir Khan’s 2008 blockbuster Ghajini.
Aravind served as a presenter of the psychological action thriller, co-written and directed by A R Murugadoss in his Hindi film debut.
Ghajini which became a huge hit upon its release, earning over Rs 200 crore, was a remake of Tamil star Suriya’s film of the same title and also featured Asin and late Jiah Khan.
“That time reaching Rs. 100 crores at the box office was impossible. In the middle of the film, he challenged us on the sets and this will be the first Rs 100 crores film,” Aravind told reporters at the trailer launch press conference of Thandel last evening.
“We were wishing like that. Ghajini is the first film to do Rs 100 crores. Now, Rs. 100 crores is equivalent to Rs 1000 crores. I want to make a Rs 1000 crore film with you (Aamir), maybe Ghajini 2,” Aravind, known for backing films like Master, Magadheera and Ala Vaikuntapuramulo, added.
Calling Aravind his elder brother, Khan said he immediately agreed to be the chief guest at the Hindi trailer launch event of the producer’s latest movie Thandel, featuring Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi.
“Even without knowing anything I said, ‘Yes’. He said, ‘I want you to know that this film (Thandel) is coming February 7th’. I was like, ‘ok, so?’. He replied, ‘Your son’s film is also releasing the same day,” Aamir said, referring to his son Junaid Khan’s film Loveyappa, which will be released February 7.
“I believe all films will work. When the story is good then the audience likes those films. In the past, we’ve seen films that were released on the same day and they did well (at the box office). It’s a fantastic trailer, it is well-shot and has great music,” the actor said about Thandel.
Khan was all praises for his Laal Singh Chaddha co-star Chaitanya, calling him a great “team player”.
“He is an ideal co-star to have and we’ve had such a great time working together. He is absolutely on the ball for every shot, he doesn’t miss a shot. He is a great human being to hang out with, I couldn’t have asked for anything better,” he said.
“It was an amazing experience working with Chay. That film (Laal Singh Chaddha) got us close together. Though we didn’t talk to each other every day, (but) at one point we were living out of each other’s pocket. We would shoot and travel together. We both have a great fondness for each other,” he added.
Chaitanya, who played Khan’s friend in Laal Singh Chaddha, which marked his Hindi movie debut, believes the Bollywood superstar is his “lucky” charm.
Thandel, a romance drama, is inspired by real-life events. The story revolves around a fisherman (Chaitanya) who gets lost at sea and inadvertently drifts into Pakistani waters, leading to his capture and imprisonment in a Pakistani jail.
It is directed by Chandoo Mondeti of Karthikeya 2 fame.
Pallavi did not attend the trailer launch event today as she was unwell, Aravind informed.
Produced by Bunny Vasu under Geetha Arts and presented by Aravind, Thandel is set to release theatrically February 7.
