Arun Kumar better known as Atlee, started life in Tamil films as an assistant to S. Shankar in the films Enthiran (2010) and Nanban (2012). He made his directorial debut with the film Raja Rani (2013), after that, he has directed mass hits like Theri (2016), Mersal (2017) and Bigil (2019), all featuring Vijay, all of which became commercially successful at the box office and won several accolades. His latest venture, Jawan (2023), starring Shah Rukh Khan in a double role, broke all sorts of box-office records when it was released on September 7. At the time of writing this, it has grossed over 1000 crores worldwide. It has been talked about its antiestablishment stance as well. Atlee says he has always made films which have high emotional content with a social message thrown in. He’s super happy about the kind of crazy success that Jawan has been generating. There are rumours that he’s already working on the sequel. The director talks about his philosophy and more in a candid interview.
It is a massive year to be a part of Shah Rukh Khan’s filmography…
It is a gift for a director when your lead star is having the best year and of course your pressure comes down and you know if you have merit in your film, you are going to fly. So, I was happy for Khan sir. I was happy for everyone who was a part of this film and I was personally also happy about that.
You have dealt with many sensitive topics in Jawan in a nuanced manner; was there ever a fear of backlash?
Denne historien er fra October 2023-utgaven av Filmfare.
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Breaking free
NIKKHIL ADVANI'S MAKING WAVES WITH HIS OTT DEBUT, FREEDOM AT MIDNIGHT. HE TALKS ABOUT ITS GENESIS, HIS ASSOCIATION WITH KARAN JOHAR, AND WHAT'S REAL STARDOM WITH SRIJITA SEN
DECK THE HALLS
Chris Evans and Dwayne Johnson join Tanzim Pardiwalla over a video call about their forthcoming Christmas film, Red One, possible Bollywood crossovers and their love for India
Class Act
NEHA DHUPIA SHARES THE SECRET OF JUGGLING MOTHERHOOD AND CAREER WHILE STAYING RELEVANT WITH FARHANA FAROOK
Deep end of the Ocean
Cancer survivor Mahima Chaudhary tells Farhana Farook that playing a similar person in The Signature proved cathartic for her
DESTINY'S WILD CHILD
ALAYA F CAUGHT IN A CONVERSATION WITH JITESH PILLAAI
SEOUL CONNECTION
Director Hwang Dong Hyuk and lead actors Lee Jung Jae and Wi Ha Joon of Squid Game fame talk about the global phenomenon with Tanzim Pardiwalla
"Smita was a victim.not a villain"
Manya Patil-Seth tells Farhana Farook why her late sister Smita Patil was a tragic contradiction – a pioneer of an actor but a prey of emotions
Best of Shatrughan Sinha's Rapid fire
With democracy facing a near-death situation in most of India's neighbouring countries, what, according to you, is the reason why Indian democracy is still standing strong in the current times? Gaurav Pant, New Delhi
THE RISE AND RISE OF PUSHPA 2
When Allu Arjun went to Patna around a month ago to showcase the trailer of Pushpa 2, naysayers mocked the move, stating that he's making a mistake about taking a Telugu film there. Guess what, the actor had the last laugh.
girl, uninterrupted
Fatima Sana Shaikh is so candid and forthright you don't believe she's a star.
