Renowned filmmaker Atlee, who previously broke box office records with Shah Rukh Khan in Jawan, is making a return, this time as a producer for Baby John, the Hindi remake of his Tamil hit Theri. Collaborating with co-producers Priya Atlee, Murad Khetani, and Jyoti Deshpande, Atlee has unveiled the first look of Varun Dhawan, who steps into the lead role in this action-packed entertainer.
The promotional teaser features Varun seated on a throne reminiscent of the iconic American TV series Game of Thrones, surrounded by traditional dancers. With a bird in hand, Varun exudes a fierce, determined look, hinting at an imminent showdown. The actor shared the teaser on his Instagram handle.
Directed by A Kaleeswaran, Baby John, initially titled VD18, also stars Keerthy Suresh and Wamiqa Gabbi in pivotal roles, with Jackie Shroff and Rajpal Yadav in supporting roles. S Thaman is credited for the film’s music. The much-awaited film is slated to hit theatres on March 15.
In a recent interview, Atlee discussed his decision to venture into film production, a transition influenced by Shah Rukh Khan. He expressed gratitude for the actor’s mentorship, saying, “Shah Rukh sir inspired me, not just as an actor, but also as a producer. I have learned the ropes during my four-year stint with him. Now, I have begun producing films here in Bollywood. I’ve already produced a couple of films down south, and now I’m expanding into Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi productions.”
Atlee’s original film Theri, starring Vijay, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and Amy Jackson, received critical acclaim and was a commercial success. It emerged as the second highest-grossing Tamil film of 2016.