Allu Aravind Indicates Ongoing Discussions with Suriya for Chandoo Mondeti’s Next Directorial Venture

Allu Aravind established Geetha Arts in 1972 in Hyderabad, becoming one of Telugu cinema’s most accomplished producers today. He is synonymous with delivering quality content. His upcoming production ‘Thandel,’ featuring Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi, is set to hit screens on February 7. With a reported budget of ₹80 crore, ‘Thandel,’ directed by Chandoo Mondeti and featuring music by Devi Sri Prasad, promises to captivate audiences.

Allu Aravind visited Chennai for the Tamil trailer launch of ‘Thandel,’ a romantic action drama, where he spoke with Hindustan Times about the film and its origins. When asked about his decision to choose the story of ‘Thandel,’ which centers around the fishermen from Srikakulam village, the veteran producer explained, ‘I had been searching for a real-life narrative for some time. When a young man brought this subject to me, I found it intriguing. Initially more like a documentary, director Chandoo Mondeti spent a year transforming it into a love story set against this unique backdrop.’

Regarding his choice of Naga Chaitanya, known as Chay, for the lead role, Allu Aravind, the producer of ‘Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo,’ explained his decision, citing a long-standing familiarity with the actor since his childhood. “We felt he was the perfect fit for this character,” remarked Aravind. “Naga Chaitanya’s performance in ‘Thandel’ is deeply moving. He has delivered an unprecedented, career-defining performance in the film,” he added, predicting it to become the highest-grossing film for the ‘Premam’ star. Interestingly, Chay grew a beard specifically for his role, prompting a humorous anecdote from the producer: “At his wedding, when I went to bless him and Sobhita, she suddenly asked me, ‘Can I ask you something?’ I said, ‘Sure,’ and Sobhita queried, ‘When will I be able to see my husband’s face properly?’ To which I replied, ‘On February 8th.'”

Meanwhile, director Chandoo Mondeti has expressed his exclusive commitment to working with producer Allu Aravind, outlining plans for multiple collaborations. Mondeti, known for several blockbusters including his recent film ‘Karthikeya 2,’ which won Best Telugu Feature Film at the 70th National Awards, highlighted the trust placed in him by Aravind. According to Mondeti, Aravind has even proposed a ₹300 crore budget film featuring stars like Suriya, Ram Charan, or other leading actors.

When asked if he plans to venture into Tamil cinema, considering his success in Telugu, Allu Aravind confirmed, “Yes, I am interested. Suriya and I have been close friends for a long time, and I would like to collaborate with him.” He revealed ongoing discussions with director Chandoo Mondeti regarding a potential project involving Suriya, although it’s still in its early stages.

Reflecting on his success in selecting scripts, despite being modest about his intuition, Aravind commented, “I’m not sure what X factor I possess. Similarly, I can’t pinpoint what drives my decisions to choose or reject scripts. However, the films I choose to produce often find success, and I consider myself fortunate.”

Produced by Geetha Arts, ‘Thandel’ is slated for a grand release on February 7th in Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi. The film features music by Devi Sri Prasad, editing by Naveen Nooli, and cinematography by Shamdat Sainudeen.