There is no better place than a movie set for an actor, and the set of a Salman Khan film is hard to top. Ask actor Muzammil Ibrahim, who plays a key part in director Vamshi Paidipally’s action film, the working title of which is SVC63. Personally, he is over the moon to be sharing the frame with his childhood idol. 

“I never imagined that I’d get to work with him. When he came on the set, I was like, ‘Wow! I am going to be in the same frame as Salman sir,’” Ibrahim told mid-day over a call from the film’s set.

For him, the first day of working with Khan was filled with awe. With every passing day, his admiration for the superstar has only grown.

He shared, “I am a crazy fan of Salman sir. So much so that I can’t even talk when he is around. I am bursting inside to tell him so many stories — for instance, how I used to tie a bandana just like him, or how I would walk like him.”

Bagging one of the most anticipated films of 2027, also starring Nayanthara, is a win for Ibrahim. The actor believes his work in Special Ops helped him land the project. “I think Special Ops was a big trigger; my work in the show was appreciated and people took notice of it,” he said. 

“I have missed [watching] so many South films. So, I caught up on some of them. Nayanthara is fantastic. You respect the artiste more once you know them personally,” said Muzammil Ibrahim.

Salman Khan’s journey is taking him to Afghanistan. On screen, at least. mid-day has learnt that director Vamshi Paidipally has recreated an Afghan village at Prime Focus Studio in Film City, Goregaon, for the ongoing schedule of his next with Khan, the working title of which is ‘SVC63’. 

The set comprises mud-plastered structures, narrow lanes, and weathered homes, designed specifically for several crucial action sequences.

A source revealed, “Nayanthara has joined Salman for this portion of the shoot. The duo will feature together in key action set-pieces. The Mumbai schedule, which began on August 6, is among the most important stretches during which the director plans to wrap a chunk of the action material.”

We’ve learnt that Jackie Shroff will also join the unit in the leg that will go on till early September. The veteran actor apparently plays a pivotal character who steps in when Khan’s protagonist finds himself in a difficult situation.

In the past few days, Salman Khan’s next action entertainer — the working title of which is SVC63 — has hit headlines over reports of the actor’s remuneration.

Away from the noise, the superstar is readying to kick off the next schedule on August 6. mid-day has learnt that director Vamshi Paidipally will begin a six-week schedule in Goregaon, aiming to shoot three action set-pieces and several crowd sequences.

A source said, “The makers had initially planned to conduct the schedule in Hyderabad, but it was moved to Mumbai. This leg is heavily dependent on crowd work, with scenes involving hundreds of junior artistes. The action team has planned large-scale sequences, and the crowd movement in them is as important as Salman’s stunts. Nayanthara is expected to join the unit in a few weeks.”

Actor Rahul Dev has come on board as one of the film’s antagonists. He will join Khan in the upcoming leg.

Manali done, now Mumbai is calling out to Salman Khan and Nayanthara. Sources have told mid-day that the two actors are set to kick off the next schedule of their yet-untitled film, directed by Vamshi Paidipally, on June 10 in the Maximum City.

What’s on the agenda? To film critical action blocks that have been envisioned against the city’s locations. “The team will shoot across multiple outdoor locations in and around Bandra because the sequences require the texture and scale of an urban setting. The sequences, featuring both leads, include chases, vehicle-based action, close-quarter combat, and crowd-heavy moments,” revealed a source.

Producer Dil Raju and the director have also lined up a key set-piece involving Khan. An insider shared, “It’s one of the film’s major action pieces. It begins as a pursuit and gradually escalates into a confrontation.”

After Mumbai, the unit will head to Hyderabad in July for the next leg.

Whenever a big-ticket movie locks its release date, there is almost always a ripple effect. This time, it’s got to do with Prabhas’s Spirit and Salman Khan’s next with director Vamshi Paidipally, the working title of which is SVC63. Spirit, helmed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, was announced as a March 5, 2027, release. But now according to multiple trade sources, it has been postponed to December 1, 2027. What’s the trigger? Khan’s actioner.

An industry insider told mid-day, “Salman locked Eid 2027, which will fall in early March, for his next with Nayanthara. Once that date was taken, it didn’t make sense for Spirit to arrive in the same window. Vanga’s films rely heavily on sustained buzz and clean runs. So, the delay is a calculated move, not due to production issues.”

Now, Vanga appears to have chosen a date that brought him luck the last time around — December 1, which was Animal’s (2023) release date. Spirit, which pairs Prabhas with Triptii Dimri, is currently in production. Sources indicated that the filmmaker is sticking to an aggressive shooting schedule of the cop actioner, aiming to wrap principal photography by early 2027 regardless of the new date.

A source revealed, “Vanga wants enough room for editing, background score, and readying it in Hindi, Telugu, and other languages. The latest move shows that big-ticket offerings are increasingly averting clashes unless unavoidable.”

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Besides ‘Spirit’, Prabhas has the sequel to ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ in production. Director Nag Ashwin recently kicked off the latest schedule in Hyderabad, with the superstar expected to shoot the film’s core portions through May

Last week, Salman Khan officially announced his next, a yet-untitled action drama co-starring South actor Nayanthara that will release on Eid 2027. While the superstar’s fans are excited about his first collaboration with Nayanthara and National Film Award-winning director Vamshi Paidipally, they may have another reason to cheer soon. mid-day has learnt that the makers plan to shoot a special asset to announce its title. So far the project is being referred to as SVC63, denoting the 63rd production of the banner, Sri Venkateswara Creations.

A source revealed, “As is the case with many South films, titles of big releases are launched in style with visual assets. While the movie’s shoot has begun, the team has decided to film a separate video asset with Salman to unveil the title.” 

So, what can you expect from the promo? If the assets of other big-ticket South ventures are any indication, a hyper-stylized video that capitalizes on Khan’s swag. Another insider shared, “Salman is one of the biggest action stars in the country. The team wants the video to do justice to his stardom and screen presence. It will also showcase his look in the film.” The unit has yet to lock the date for the promo shoot.

In February, filmmaker Nelson Dilipkumar unveiled the announcement promo of his next, ‘KHxRK’, which marks the reunion of Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth. High on style, the video was a hilarious affair, which showed the two legends asking the director who among them was the film’s hero.

Salman Khan’s ‘Maatrubhumi’ may be going through changes, making it difficult to lock its release date (Hindi-Chini bhai bhai, Bhaijaan giving that a try? March 17). But things appear to be moving fast on the superstar’s next with producer Dil Raju and director Vamshi Paidipally. Industry insiders have told mid-day that the actor is expected to kick off the actioner around April 14.

Naturally, preparations are underway in full swing in Mumbai. We’ve heard that a massive set is being constructed at the SRPF Ground in Goregaon.

A source close to the production shared, “This isn’t a regular set, it’s practically a mini-city. The set has been designed to resemble a dense urban area, which will be shown as a high-conflict zone where a large-scale action sequence plays out. Think of it almost like an industrial township.” The decision to build such an elaborate set-up stems from the film’s action-heavy narrative.

While casting for the yet-untitled movie is being finalized, the production team is racing against time to have everything ready by mid-April.

The source added, “Many elements are being pieced together simultaneously — set design, action choreography, and final casting. The goal is to hit the ground running.”

All eyes are on Dil Raju’s upcoming production that is rumoured to star Salman Khan. Even as reports suggest that the yet-untitled film may see Khan sharing screen space with Nayanthara for the first time, we might see the superstar in another fresh pairing, courtesy filmmaker duo Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, better known as Raj-DK.

Last week, mid-day reported that the actor is in early discussions with Raj-DK for a superhero film (A retiring superhero, March 6). Now, sources have revealed that Samantha Ruth Prabhu, who featured in the filmmaker duo’s second season of ‘The Family Man’, is the frontrunner for the movie.

“Samantha is very much in the conversation. She shares a strong creative equation with the makers, and they feel she fits the part,” said the source. The producers are aiming to take the project on floors by August. 

Before facing the camera with Prabhu, Khan will kick off Raju’s production that is being helmed by Telugu film director Vamshi Paidipally. Another source shared, “Nayanthara has emerged as the frontrunner for the female lead, though talks are ongoing. It will be a pan-India action entertainer, and should roll by April.”