In 2021, Ranveer Singh was all set to step into the shoes of Vikram for the Hindi remake of Anniyan, the 2005 Tamil blockbuster that became a turning point in Vikram’s career. Directed by Shankar and produced by Jayantilal Gada, the Hindi remake was poised to bring the intense, multi-layered character to a new audience. However, the project has since been shelved, and now, Vikram has weighed in on the missed opportunity.
In a recent interview with DNA, Vikram shared his thoughts on Ranveer’s potential portrayal of his iconic role. When asked how he felt about Ranveer reprising his character, Vikram, responded, “I think you should ask Shankar this, he should have made part two with me.” But the actor didn’t stop there—on a more serious note, he admitted that he would have loved to see Ranveer's take on the character.
"That's being very ambitious," Vikram said, adding, "But I thought Ranveer would have made a nice Anniyan. I really like him as a star, and it would have been interesting to see what he would do with the story." The original Anniyan—which was also dubbed in Telugu as Aparichitudu and in Hindi as Aparichit—earned Vikram widespread acclaim for his portrayal of a man suffering from multiple personality disorder, with distinct personas that ranged from a meek lawyer to a brutal vigilante.
Naturally, any remake of such a beloved film would come with high expectations, and Vikram acknowledged the challenge and ambition behind such a project. In April 2021, the Hindi remake of Anniyan with Ranveer Singh was officially announced, creating significant buzz. However, things quickly turned complicated when Aascar Ravichandran, the producer of the original Tamil version, filed a complaint against director Shankar.
Ravichandran claimed that the film was being remade without his consent, taking legal action against Shankar and producer Jayantilal Gada. This led to uncertainty surrounding the project, with updates becoming increasingly sparse. By July this year, while promoting his highly anticipated film Indian 2, Shankar finally addressed the status of the remake, confirming that the project had been shelved.
“The initial plan was to make Anniyan in Hindi with Ranveer Singh, but we have changed our plans now," Shankar explained. "Our producers have asked us to create a film even bigger than Anniyan, so discussions are ongoing. I will decide on that after the release of Game Changer and Indian 3.
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