Actor Arya has weighed in on the intent of multiple films being launched and released as pan-Indian projects, during promotions for his upcoming action thriller, Mr X. Also starring Gautham Karthik, Mr X which is directed by Manu Anand, is set for a theatrical release on April 17.
In a recent conversation with Cineulagam, Arya shared, "Meeting frequently with Santhanam and other friends in the industry has become less since the term ‘pan-India’ came into existence. Making a single film now takes two or three years, which is detrimental."
He added, "When we shot Sarpatta Parambarai (2021), Pa Ranjith sir finished in just 65 days; he directed efficiently. Even with only 100 shooting days, he stays on schedule— so time isn’t the problem. But now, everyone wants to do big-budget films, shoot it for a longer time, and do more action films."
"After the OTT market crash, has everyone returned to reality. In the upcoming years, you will see more small to mid-size films, fun films, rom-coms, and family-oriented films. In the near future, there are many opportunities because overspending the budget won’t last in the long run. Even a small-budget film will work. Recently released films like Thaai Kizhavi or Youth collected big money. What matters is how you entertain and engage the audience. It doesn’t have to be a big film. Big films like Dhurandhar or Pushpa 2 (2024) will have their audience, and will work, but it doesn’t mean only those big-budget films will work. Even smaller films will work."
The actor also shared that a pan-India film depends on the story. He said, "We can't just announce a pan-India project and make it. Instead, it is important that the content we create naturally reaches a pan-India level; making a film specifically for the sake of being pan-Indian, is 'absurd'."
During the same interview, Arya was asked about the reason for choosing to commit to a single project for one or two years, especially when it requires a specific physical transformation. He explained, “It really depends on the film. When you’re playing a character that involves a lot of other actors, you have to be available so the production can coordinate everyone’s schedules. It’s better to stay focused and finish one project completely. Some big films, like Mr. X, obviously will take more time—sometimes a year or a year and a half. Because we were shooting in many different international locations with action sequences, everything took longer to coordinate. If I worried about 'sitting at home' for a year and a half just because I’m committed to one look, I wouldn't be able to do films at all.”
Mr X is produced under the banners of Prince Pictures and Maverick Movies. The film is packed with the massive cast that includes Manju Warrier, Sarath Kumar, Kaali Venkat, V Jayaprakash, Anagha LK, Athulya Ravi, Raiza Wilson, Chandru, Rishi Prakash, and Aarash Shah.