Take one look at Baby John’s teaser, and it’s easy to gauge that it will be a bloody affair. On April 24, Varun Dhawan wrapped up the action fare that marks Tamil director Kalees’ Hindi film debut. Staying true to Atlee’s Tamil hit Theri (2016), the Hindi adaptation will see the protagonist as a fierce cop in his past, and a doting father in the present day. mid-day has learnt that Dhawan will sport two distinct looks—as a young cop, he will flaunt the khaki uniform and sunglasses, which will be his signature accessory, whereas he will sport long hair, a beard and a lungi for the father track.

Dhawan unveiled this avatar in the teaser itself. Sources say that the two looks have been designed in such a way that they reflect his character’s journey. “The young cop is dynamic, aggressive and stylish. Designer Sheetal Sharma has given him customized sunglasses that he will sport on his wrist like a wrist band. His wardrobe comprises chinos, linen shirts and polo T-shirts. Kalees wanted an intense look for the character after he goes through a personal tragedy and begins life anew with his daughter in Kerala. For this portion, Varun sports white lungis and silk shirts,” reveals a source.

While Keerthy Suresh essays the cop’s wife, Wamiqa Gabbi plays his romantic interest as he begins a new lease of life later.

The portions depicting the character’s present day were shot in Alleppey, Kochi, and the serene backwaters of Kerala. The unit conducted a 20-day schedule in March during which they not only filmed crucial scenes and a song, but also an elaborate fight sequence.

“To make Baby John a no-holds-barred actioner, producers Murad Khetani and Atlee roped in eight action directors. Varun spent three months prepping for the action blocks. One of the most crucial set-pieces was shot in the backwaters. In the sequence, the hero, who has left the police force and leads a peaceful life in Kerala, has to take up arms again when goons attack his five-year-old daughter. It has been designed as a high-octane scene, where Varun takes on 30 baddies single-handedly, performing kicks, punches and lunges in a lungi. Cinematographer Kiran Koushik has shot it as a larger-than-life sequence.”

Navigating the labyrinth of release dates for star-studded films is a challenge producers face. Finding the perfect holiday weekend that doesn’t clash with other bigwig movies is a lot to juggle with in an industry that releases over 1,500 movies in all languages in one year. So, it’s not uncommon for makers to alter their dates with the theatres.

After Prabhas’s Kalki 2898 AD, which was originally set to release on May 9, has apparently been delayed, the other film that’s moving dates is the -starrer Baby John. According to trade sources, the film slated for May 31 will now shift to July.

The source informs, “While Lok Sabha elections on May 13 in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are the main reason [for the change in Kalki 2898 AD’s dates], in the case of Baby John, the makers are delaying to scale up two important stunts. It requires training and will be shot in May.”

Director Kalees is waiting for June to complete the colourist’s work and VFX on the movie that revolves around a DCP who transforms and travels to different places in order to protect his family.

The move is also to ensure that Baby John gets all the attention. “With Kalki being pushed, the makers want to avoid any clash. Baby John will command a solo release. June end or early July is when they will release the movie,” adds the source.

Atlee might be neck-deep in work as he locks the final cut of Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan, but his next is in pre-production. The film, reportedly an adaptation of Atlee’s Tamil hit Theri (2016), will mark his first collaboration with Varun Dhawan. While the female lead has yet to be finalised, it is heard that Atlee—who serves as the producer on the remake—is ready to take it on floors next month with Kalees at the helm.

Sources say that the producer-director duo have charted out a short schedule for July. “A chunk will be shot in Mumbai in late August and September. An elaborate set will be created in Film City, followed by short stints in different parts of the city, especially Chembur. Atlee’s team, who worked on Mersal [2017] and Bigil [2019], will fly down to Mumbai next month to kick off work,” says a source. 

Dhawan is currently busy with the Indian version of Citadel. The source adds, “He will join the unit in early September. Until then, Kalees will film the supporting cast’s portions.”

Earlier, it was reported that Anushka Sharma would star in the Theri remake (Anushka-Varun to reunite, June 2), but she is said to have bowed out of it.