Venky Atluri Drops Maruti 800 Film Plans with Suriya, Picks a New Script

After tasting success with Sir/Vaathi and Lucky Baskhar, director Venky Atluri is now joining hands with Tamil star Suriya for a straight Telugu film. The project, which recently had its formal launch, has begun regular shooting and is already drawing attention from Telugu audiences, who’ve always held Suriya close, often calling him the adopted son of the Telugu states.

Speaking in a recent interview, Venky shared how the collaboration came together. He mentioned that Suriya and Ajith have always been among his favourite actors, and working with them was on his wishlist for years. Though he initially hoped to pitch a film based on Maruti 800, Suriya wasn’t looking to do such projects at the moment, having recently done Soorarai Potru and Jai Bhim. So, Venky developed a family-oriented script filled with relatable emotions. He first narrated the story to Suriya’s close friend and collaborator, who liked it and encouraged him to take it directly to the actor. Even without the climax being revealed, Suriya connected with the story and gave it a nod.

Venky also reflected on his shift in storytelling over the years. He admitted that early in his career, his films revolved around similar themes. But now, he consciously aims to explore new genres with every project. From a love story like Rang De, to a socially-driven Sir, then a con-based drama like Lucky Baskhar, and now a family drama with Suriya, his efforts to not repeat himself are clear. Interestingly, while most of his past protagonists came from middle-class backgrounds, Suriya’s character in this film is different, more in line with his popular role as Sanjay Ramaswamy in Ghajini.

Mamitha Baiju has been cast as the female lead. The pairing has sparked mixed responses online, mainly due to the age gap. Venky addressed this by saying opinions are natural and believes the first look or poster will help audiences better understand the casting.

Tentatively titled Suriya 46, the film is produced by Naga Vamsi under Sithara Entertainments, with music by GV Prakash, who previously worked with Venky on Sir and Lucky Baskhar. The project promises to blend strong emotions with wide-reaching appeal.