Actress Janhvi Kapoor Speech @ PEDDI Bangalore Press Meet

Fans were left buzzing after reports suggested a possible collaboration between Allu Arjun and filmmaker-actor Basil Joseph, with speculation quickly snowballing into claims that the project could be a big-screen reboot of the iconic superhero franchise Shaktimaan. However, fresh clarifications have now put an end to the rumours, indicating that no such project is currently in development.

Amid Allu Arjun’s packed schedule—featuring big-ticket films like Raaka with Atlee and another ambitious project with Lokesh Kanagaraj—the talk of a Basil Joseph collaboration had sparked major curiosity among fans. But director Arun Anirudhan, who recently worked with Basil Joseph and Tovino Thomas on Athiradi, has now addressed the speculation directly.

He revealed that he and Paulson Skaria were earlier developing a screenplay for Basil’s next directorial venture, which was envisioned as a massive project centered around Shaktimaan. However, he confirmed that the film never went on floors. “It was supposed to be a massive film, Shaktimaan. I do not know whether it will happen or not; it is quite complicated,” he said, adding that the current buzz linking Allu Arjun and Basil Joseph has no connection to that script.

Clarifying further, he dismissed the ongoing rumours, stating that any association between Allu Arjun and the Shaktimaan idea is baseless and that official updates, if any, will be shared in due course.

Basil Joseph himself has also downplayed the speculation around directing Allu Arjun’s milestone 25th film. When asked, he simply responded, “Let it just happen,” and firmly shut down the Shaktimaan link with a brief, “No, bro.”

Meanwhile, veteran actor Mukesh Khanna, who famously portrayed Shaktimaan, weighed in on the discussion, saying Allu Arjun has the charisma, screen presence, and physicality that could suit the superhero role if it were ever considered in the future.