Mumbai: Director Atlee has hailed actress Deepika Padukone as his “lucky charm” while discussing their upcoming collaboration in the highly anticipated pan-India film ‘AA22xA6’, starring Allu Arjun in the lead.
In a recent interview with India Today, Atlee expressed immense admiration for Deepika, with whom he previously worked on the blockbuster ‘Jawan’ alongside Shah Rukh Khan. “Yes, she’s my lucky charm. This is my second film with Deepika, and she’s wonderful to work with. She’s just unbelievable. And I think after motherhood, she’s starting this film, and you are going to see a very different Deepika for sure,”
The filmmaker also shared that his team is putting in relentless effort on the ambitious sci-fi action entertainer. “Every day, we are discovering something. I am aware of how everyone wants to hear about the film. And honestly, more than my audience, I am really waiting to tell them everything. We are spending sleepless nights working on it. I know it’s no excuse, but we are equally excited. We are readying something really big for everyone. And once it’s done, trust me, everyone will enjoy it to the maximum,” he revealed, teasing that they are preparing “something really big for everyone.”
Deepika joined the project last year after her reported exits from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s ‘Spirit’ and the sequel to ‘Kalki 2898 AD’. Those departures sparked speculation in industry circles about factors such as demands for fixed working hours, high remuneration, and perceived unprofessionalism. However, her pairing with Atlee in ‘AA22xA6’, which is produced by Sun Pictures and described as a magnum opus, has shifted the narrative, generating widespread excitement and effectively quelling the earlier rumours.
To announce Deepika’s entry into the film, Sun Pictures posted a conversation video between her and Atlee, captioned: “The Queen marches to conquer! Welcome onboard @deepikapadukone #TheFacesOfAA22xA6. #AA22xA6 – A Magnum Opus from Sun Pictures.”
The actress was last seen in Nag Ashwin’s ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, which also starred Prabhas and Amitabh Bachchan. She is also starring in Sidharth Anand’s ‘King’ with Shah Rukh Khan, and his daughter Suhana Khan.
