Actor Allu Arjun (left) and Lokesh Kanagaraj are teaming up for the first time.
In a big development, star Tamil director Lokesh Kanagaraj has teamed up with Telugu superstar Allu Arjun for an upcoming project. Mythri Movie Makers, the production banner behind the project, announced the film with a video on January 14, 2025 (Wednesday).
The project, tentatively titled AA 23, marks the Telugu debut of Lokesh, who last directed the Rajinikanth-starrer Coolie, bankrolled by Sun Pictures. AA 23 is Allu Arjun’s second straight collaboration with a Tamil filmmaker, following his project with Atlee, tentatively titled AA 22. The film, also starring Deepika Padukone and produced by Sun Pictures, is currently under production.
AA 23 will have music from Anirudh, the regular collaborator of director Lokesh. The ace director of Master (2021)and Vikram (2022) was supposed to start Kaithi 2 soon after Coolie. But now, fans will have to wait longer for the sequel to the 2019 hit Karthi-starrer, which was suppose to resume the filmmaker’s famed Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU).
The announcement of Kaithi 2 was made in March 2025, with Dream Warrior Pictures and KVN Productions coming together as producers for the project. There is no official news about the film since then.
The announcement video of AA 23 has a catchy rap song from Anirudh titled “I say 23”. The orange-themed video shows a bunch of wolves charging in a forest only to be threatened by the roar of a lion. Allu Arjun is introduced with his celebrated moniker ‘Icon Star’. Details about the genre of the movie are under wraps.
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“A collaboration that will be eternal in Indian cinema,” said Mythri Movie Makers on X, adding that shoot begins in 2026. Lokesh’slast project, the highly-anticipated Coolie, met mixed reactions from fans and critics alike. The director will be eager to give an out-and-out blockbuster with his next.
The director is also making his acting debut with DC. The movie is directed by his contemporary Arun Matheswaran and has Wamiqa Gabbi in the female lead role.
Published – January 14, 2026 05:48 pm IST
