The actor’s upcoming multi-lingual period thriller goes on the floors in Hyderabad; also features Mohanlal and Prabhu Dheva
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 19, 2019)

After a four-year hibernation from the movies, to spend time with his ailing dad, Suniel Shetty is all set to stage a return to the screen. The 57-year-old actor has been building some muscles for Priyadarshan’s actionpacked period thriller, Marakkar - The Lion Of Arabian Sea, which kicked off in Hyderabad this week. Suniel plays a 16th century warrior in the film.

“Suniel and Priyadarshan are teaming up for their most ambitious collaboration, 10 years after De Dana Dan. Suniel’s look is inspired by the Hollywood war film, Troy, while his character has its muse in a real-life personality who has been fictionalised for cinematic purpose. He has a lot of sword fights and hand combats” informed a source close to the development. The makers are tight-lipped on the subject because not much about the warrior is out in the public domain.

A major chunk of the film will be shot in an artificially created sea with vintage warships. “The three actors—Mohanlal, Prabhu Dheva, Suniel Shetty—will shoot together at Ramoji Film City for 85-90 day schedule,” the source added.

Based on the life of Navy chief, Mohammed Ali aka Kunjali Marakkar IV, played by Mohanlal, the film reportedly has a budget of Rs 150 crore. “An international studio will work on the visual effects for almost a year as the plan is to bring the Zamorin war with the Portuguese to the screen as authentically as possible,” added the source, saying that though the shoot concludes by April-end, the film will only release in mid-2020.

A multi-lingual, it will simultaneously release in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. The makers are also in advanced talks with a Chinese actor to come on board to essay the character of Chinali, whom the navy chief had saved from Portuguese enslavement. “It is a decision that could get the film a release in China,” the source concluded.