Known for making larger-than-life films, Sanjay Leela Bhansali has now decided to step out of his comfort zone and try a different genre. According to reports, the director has acquired rights to remake Mohanlal’s 2016 action-adventure film Pulimurugan.
Furthermore, sources reveal that Bhansali approached Hrithik Roshan to play Mohanlal’s character in the film. But the actor turned down the offer, leaving Sanjay on the look out for a suitable face to fit the role.
A Bollywood Hungama report quotes a source close to Bhansali as saying, “Sanjay Leela Bhansali wanted Hrithik Roshan to play the role and even approached him for the film. However, the actor rejected the same and hasn’t even given any reason for it. So now, Bhansali is on a lookout for another actor who can play the role.” It is yet to be seen which actor will play Mohanlal in the Hindi version.
The remake will be produced by Bhansali, but it remains unclear if he will direct the movie himself or bring in Pulimurugan’s director Vysakh for the job.
Meanwhile, earlier, during the promotion of Tubelight, Salman Khan hinted that he might remake Mohanlal’s Pulimurugan. “I have acted in two Malayalam remakes – Bodyguard (2011) and Kyon Ki (2005). Now I am going to watch Pulimurugan,” he said. However, the actor did not reveal any further details about the project.
The report also stated that financier and producer, Ramesh P Pillai of Abhishek Films had grabbed the remake rights of the film for a mammoth price. There were talks that the makers were planning to approach Prabhas for the Telugu version and Salman Khan for the Hindi version of the film. An official confirmation about the Telugu remake is still awaited however.
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Pulimurugan was a successful box-office run across the country, and was also dubbed in Chinese, Vietnamese, Hindi and English. Directed by Vyshak and produced by Tomichan Mulakuppadam, the action-drama is shot in the backdrop of Kerala’s rainforests. The film was well appreciated for its stunt sequences, choreographed by Peter Hein.
Two songs from the film – Kaadanayum Kaalchilambe and Maanathe Maarikurumbe, composed by Gopi Sunder, competed for the Best Original Song category at the Oscars 2018, but failed to make it to the final cut.