Ever since Allu Arjun announced his film with director Lokesh Kanagaraj on his birthday in April, speculation surrounding the project, tentatively referred to as AA23, has been constant.
In recent weeks, fresh rumors have suggested that Allu Arjun may prioritize a film with Malayalam filmmaker Basil Joseph before commencing work on AA23.
The speculation gained traction after Basil Joseph was reportedly spotted in Hyderabad multiple times and held meetings with the star.
Adding further fuel to the gossip mill were reports claiming that Allu Arjun had shelved his project with Lokesh Kanagaraj altogether.
However, Lokesh’s longtime collaborator and writer Ratna Kumar recently dismissed such reports, clarifying that the project remains very much on track and will begin in due course.
Despite the clarification, uncertainty continues to surround the film’s timeline. The primary reason is Allu Arjun’s current commitment to Raaka, directed by Atlee.
The big-budget project is expected to keep the actor occupied for the rest of the year, making it virtually impossible for AA23 to begin shooting anytime soon.
As things stand, there is no indication that the Lokesh Kanagaraj project has been shelved.
At the same time, with Raaka taking priority and no official shooting schedule announced for AA23, it may be too early to predict when the film will actually go on floors.