Atlee is taking a backseat as producer to concentrate fully on his next directorial. PeepingMoon.com has exclusively learned that the ‘Jawan’ director has temporarily put all his in-the-works production ventures on hold to channel his energy into directing Telugu superstar Allu Arjun in a mega-scale period saga. 

Among them are two films set to star Vijay Sethupathi and Shahid Kapoor, respectively. Sethupathi's film was a Tamil thriller intended to mark Atlee and Murad Khetani’s second joint production after Varun Dhawan’s ‘Baby John’. Helmed by ‘Seethakaathi’ director Balaji Tharaneetharan, shooting was to begin in January. However, production has yet to commence, and there have been no visible signs of progress. Sources reveal that the project was quietly shelved shortly after ‘Baby John’ underperformed, prompting a reevaluation of the new project’s viability.

Similarly, Shahid Kapoor’s film was still in its writing stages when Atlee approached him late last year. But the ‘Kabir Singh’ actor was reportedly reluctant to commit to a film under Atlee’s banner, preferring instead to work with him as a director. Negotiations were ongoing when Shahid’s last release, ‘Deva’, hit theaters and suffered a box-office failure. Although the project was in its nascent stages, ‘Deva’s’ poor performance is believed to have stalled its development, putting it on indefinite hold.

There was one more project Jio Studios was planning in collaboration with Atlee and Priya Atlee's production company, A For Apple. This action thriller was set to feature ‘Sky Force’ debutant Veer Pahariya in the lead, with one of Atlee’s assistant directors from ‘Jawan’ attached as the director. Planned as Pahariya’s second major Bollywood outing, it has shown no progress as yet.

“With these projects encountering hurdles for various reasons and Atlee deeply engrossed in preparations for his next directorial, he has decided to pause development on all ongoing and planned projects under his banner. It’s a strategic move to avoid distractions and dedicate himself fully to his Allu Arjun film. This is his most ambitious project to date, and he is determined to give it his undivided attention. He cannot afford any distractions until the film is completed,” a source close to the filmmaker informed us. 

The much-hyped Atlee-Allu Arjun film is said to be a grand-scale period saga infused with a reincarnation theme, promising breathtaking visuals and unparalleled entertainment for all age groups. The ‘Pushpa 2’ superstar will be seen playing a double role in this Sun Pictures production, set to go on floors in the second half of this year with a targeted mega theatrical release in 2027. Stay tuned to PeepingMoon.com for more updates.