Sunny Deol Wasn’t the First Choice for Jaat, Reveals Director Gopichand Malineni
Director Gopichand Malineni, who recently made his Bollywood debut with the action-packed Jaat starring Sunny Deol, has revealed that the film was originally conceptualized with a different leading man in mind. In an interview with TeluguOne, Malineni shared behind-the-scenes details about how the project came together.
Originally Pitched to Balakrishna
The filmmaker disclosed that the story of Jaat was first pitched to popular Tollywood actor Nandamuri Balakrishna. “Yes, it was a different script. The first story I planned was actually what became Jaat,” Gopichand admitted during the interview.
He further explained why the collaboration didn’t materialize with Balakrishna. Following the success of Akhanda, expectations from Balakrishna’s next film were sky-high. Malineni had multiple ideas ready but ultimately, both he and Balakrishna felt that a massy faction drama would better suit the actor’s image at that time. That led to the making of Veera Simha Reddy, which became a blockbuster in 2023.
Sunny Deol Joins Jaat
After the idea was dropped for Balakrishna, Gopichand adapted the story for Sunny Deol. The director expressed satisfaction with how the film was received, particularly by audiences in northern India. He recounted attending screenings where viewers were seen dancing to the high-energy title track during the end credits.
Gopichand credited the film’s success to its south-style storytelling paired with a well-known action star from the Hindi film industry. He noted that this unique combination helped Jaat strike a chord with a wider audience.
Box Office and Cast
Jaat features Sunny Deol in the lead role, supported by Randeep Hooda and Regina Cassandra. The film tells the tale of a mysterious outsider who steps in to protect a village suffering under tyranny. Since its release on April 10, the film has performed well at the box office, earning over ₹85.65 crore net in India and grossing ₹115.10 crore globally, according to Sacnilk.
