Ranveer Singh to star in Shankar’s Hindi remake of Vikram-starrer Anniyan

Ranveer Singh has been cast in the Hindi remake of the Vikram-starrer Anniyan (2005). The project marks the actor's maiden collaboration with the South filmmaker, who helmed the cult Tamil blockbuster.

The actor and filmmaker will be collaborating on the feature with veteran film producer Dr Jayantilal Gada of Pen Studios. Anniyan saw Vikram play, Ambi, an upright lawyer. Over time, he is hardened by the apathy of the system, leading to the development of a multiple personality disorder. One of those personalities is Anniyan, a vigilante who takes matters into his own hands.

The pan-India project was announced on the occasion of both Baisakhi in North India and Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, marking the New Year. The untitled film is expected to go on the floors in 2022, once Singh’s other Hindi projects are finished.

In a statement, Shankar spoke about remaking his Tamil hit and said he was confident that the powerful story would strike a chord. He said, “For it to be made into a Hindi film, Anniyan needed a maverick, charismatic showman like no other to play the part. I found this in the mercurial Ranveer Singh because he is a one-in-a-generation actor who has shown us that he can immortalise a character through his stellar performance. In Dr Gada, Ranveer and I have found an ideal producer who believes in the vision we have to change the nativity of content for audiences across the country.”

Singh said that he was blessed and truly excited to work with Shankar. “He is an exception to the norm, a true disruptor who has shown us that no vision is large enough to achieve on screen. I had always hoped and dreamed that I would get a chance to collaborate with him, and I have a strong feeling that we will create magic together. To lead a film like Anniyan is a dream come true for any artiste," he said.

The actor also hailed Vikram as one of our country’s finest talents. "He gave a colossal performance in the original, one that can never be matched. I can only hope that my interpretation and rendition of the part also connects with audiences in the same way. It’s undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime performance piece, and I am ready to give this role every single ounce of my being. Shankar Sir is a genius filmmaker and a true visionary," Singh said.

Gada said he was thrilled to collaborate on the opportunity of a lifetime on this remake as worldwide distributors. “Shankar and Ranveer are two forces of nature and them coming together is the biggest cinematic event in India. We are confident that their collaboration will write a new chapter in the history of Indian cinema. We are announcing the film during the very significant time of Baisakhi and Puthandu to signify Shankar and Ranveer’s intent to make a truly pan-Indian entertainer!” he said.

The Hindi remake will be co-produced by God Bless Entertainment, and the music of the film will be available on Saregama.

A dubbed version of Anniyan titled Aparichit was released in May 2006. While Aparichit wasn’t as successful at the box office, it has since gone on to gain a cult following owing to its repeated screenings on television.