Have to make Rs 3,000 crore film next, says director Atlee

Filmmaker Atlee, who recently helmed the blockbuster hit Jawan, starring Shah Rukh Khan in the lead role, said he next aims to direct a film that earns Rs 3,000 crore at the box office as he wants to cast superstars Vijay and Shah Rukh Khan together.

Atlee, who is making his debut in Bollywood, has previously worked with Vijay in Theri (2016), Mersal (2017) and Bigil (2019). All of them were box office hits.

On the second day of the India Today Conclave, Atlee was asked to choose between Shah Rukh and Vijay.

"I would pick both of them," he said in his response.

Asked if he had enough budget to afford both the stars, the filmmaker said he plans to make a film that does a business of Rs 3,000 crore to be able to do so. 

"I have to do Rs 3000 crore (for the) next film, so definitely, it (casting Shah Rukh and Vijay together) should be easy enough. I would like to pick both of them. "One is like a wife, one is like a mother. I can't leave either. I have to live with both," Atlee said during the session titled 'Mass appeal: Recipe for scripting a blockbuster'.

While the filmmaker credited Vijay for helping him cement his position in the film industry, he expressed gratitude towards Shah Rukh for trusting him blindly with Jawan.

"He (Vijay) has given me back-to-back films. Of course, I've delivered hits to him, but he really trusted me. From there, a man who came with utmost trust... There are so many directors around the country.

"Anybody would have said yes if Mr Shah Rukh Khan called them to do a film. But he trusted me blindly. I don't know why he selected me. But that trust has made me do Jawan with utmost responsibility and love," Atlee said.

Recently, Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan overtook both Pathaan and Gadar 2: The Katha Continues to become the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time in the domestic market. The action entertainer earned more than Rs 1000 crores globally.

Jawan also stars Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, Priyamani, Sanya Malhotra, and Ridhi Dogra, among others. Deepika Padukone has a cameo appearance in the film.