Bollywood
Anees Bazmee Declares It Open: Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan to Lead Official Hindi Adaptation of Sankranthiki Vasthunam
Clearing the air after weeks of intense speculation, director Anees Bazmee has officially declared the project open, confirming that he is indeed reuniting with superstar Akshay Kumar for a high-profile entertainer. While the film has been widely reported as a remake of the Telugu blockbuster Sankranthiki Vasthunam, Bazmee clarified that the team has focused on a re-imagined narrative tailored for the national audience. Speaking on the project's progress, the filmmaker expressed confidence, stating, All I can say is that hamari film acchi hai.Mehnat poori ki hai humne Anees Bazmee further provided the first official look at the film's powerhouse ensemble, confirming a mix of seasoned veterans and popular fresh talent. The director stated, The film stars Akshay ji, Vidya ji, Raashii Khanna, Vijay Raaz, Zakir Hussain, Sayaji Shinde and others. This announcement has sent waves of excitement through the industry, primarily because it marks the return of the legendary Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan pairing. The duo shares a prolific history at the box office, having previously delivered several major hits.After appearing together in Bhool Bhulaiyaa and Heyy Babyy in 2007, they reunited for Thank You in 2011 and most recently for the 2019 blockbuster Mission Mangal.Notably, Anees Bazmee himself previously directed the pair in the 2011 comedy Thank You, making this project a significant full-circle moment for the trio.Produced by Dil Raju under Sri Venkateswara Creations, the film is expected to begin its primary filming schedule immediately. The original Telugu film, which featured Venkatesh Daggubati and was directed by Anil Ravipudi, emerged as a massive success during the 2025 Sankranthi season. Known for its blend of high-stakes action and signature Ravipudi comedy, the film is considered a perfect fit for Akshay Kumar's versatile screen presence. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Akshay Kumar has a remarkably prolific slate lined up for 2026 and 2027, focusing heavily on successful franchises and high-energy entertainers. One of the biggest highlights is the superstar returning to his iconic comedy roots with Welcome To The Jungle and the long-awaited Hera Pheri 3, both of which are expected to be major crowd-pullers. Beyond franchises, Akshay is expanding his portfolio with diverse collaborations. He is teaming up with director Priyadarshan after a long hiatus for the horror-comedy Bhoot Bangla, aiming to recreate the magic of their previous hits.By balancing these large-scale original films with proven franchise sequels and successful South Indian remakes, Akshay Kumar is positioning himself for a massive theatrical comeback. With music director Bheems Cecirolio and producer Dil Raju backing his latest venture, the upcoming years are set to be a busy and decisive period for the star's box office trajectory. The move by Akshay Kumar to return to the remake genre follows a period of experimentation with original scripts. Trade analysts suggest that a commercial entertainer like Sankranthiki Vasthunam could provide the box office pull required for the star in the current theatrical climate. With Dil Raju's production expertise and Bheems Cecirolio's mass-oriented music, the project is already being positioned as a strong contender for a 2027 holiday release. As of now, an official announcement regarding the title and the rest of the ensemble cast for the Akshay Kumar starrer is expected from the makers in the coming weeks
