It’s official now! Kiara Advani to star opposite Ranveer Singh in Anniyan remake

Kiara Advani

There had been speculation and now it is confirmed. Kiara Advani will star alongside Ranveer Singh in S Shankar's remake of his Tamil psychological thriller Anniyan (2005). She is said to have inked the deal on Friday. The project has been courting controversy after producer V Ravichandran claimed that he owns the rights to the Vikram-starrer. Shankar maintains that he does. Advani has featured in South films, including Bharat Ane Nenu (2018) and Vinaya Vidheya Rama (2019).

The 2005 psychological action thriller featured South star Vikram in the lead and chronicled the story of a man who suffers from multiple personality disorder- working as a lawyer by day and a vigilante at night. The adaptation, billed as a pan-India project, will be produced by Jayantilal Gada of Pen Studios. Ranveer, said he is blessed to be a part of the "spectacular cinematic vision" of Shankar, known for directing blockbusters like Rajinikanth's Enthiran, 2.0 and Sivaji The Boss. The Gully Boy actor described the filmmaker as a "true disruptor" who has proved with his films that no vision is large enough to achieve on screen.

"To lead a film like 'Anniyan' is a dream come true for any artiste. Vikram sir, one of our country's finest talents, an artiste who I hugely admire, 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," Singh said in a statement.

Shankar, 57, said the Hindi adaptation of Anniyan needed a "maverick, charismatic showman" which he found in Singh. "I'm thrilled to make 'Anniyan' for the pan-Indian audience and I'm confident that this powerful story will strike a chord in the hearts of all. 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," the director said. Gada, chairman and MD of Pen Studios said the film will be one of the biggest cinematic events in the country.