ICON Is Finally Happening, but Without Allu Arjun: Dil Raju

The long-delayed project ICON, once planned with Allu Arjun, is finally back on track, but this time, the Icon Star Allu Arjun is not part of it. Back in 2019, after delivering the blockbuster MCA with Nani, producer Dil Raju and director Venu Sriram announced ICON with Allu Arjun. However, the project took a backseat when the duo committed to Vakeel Saab, the Telugu remake of Pink, starring Pawan Kalyan.

Meanwhile, Allu Arjun scored the industry hit Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, which turned out to be a game-changer for his career, paving the way for his pan-India stardom. Soon after, he signed Pushpa, which at that time was not yet declared a two-part film.

Initially, Dil Raju and Venu Sriram decided to wait until Pushpa was wrapped up, hoping to revive ICON with Bunny. But with Pushpa officially announced as a two-part franchise and Allu Arjun dedicating years to its filming, the makers had no option but to explore other projects.

That’s how Thammudu with Nithiin materialized. Interestingly, Nani was also considered for the lead at one point, but that’s a different story altogether.Now, with Thammudu gearing up for a July 4th release and Allu Arjun busy shooting for Atlee’s next, Dil Raju has finally opened up about ICON. Speaking to the media, he confirmed that ICON is very much alive, described as an action drama beautifully layered with human emotions — but Allu Arjun is not part of it anymore.

While he didn’t reveal who’s stepping into the lead role, sources say Dil Raju is still planning a big-ticket pan-India project with Allu Arjun, expected to go on floors in 2026 and hit screens by 2027 or 2028.

Interestingly, a similar situation played out with the recently announced Lord Murugan-inspired film from Trivikram, which was initially linked to Allu Arjun. Eventually, it was Jr NTR who came on board as the lead. Coming back to ICON, the big question remains — Who’s going to headline this much-delayed project? Stay tuned!