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Sunny Deol has long been a force in Indian cinema, known for his thunderous dialogue delivery and powerful screen presence. With box office blockbusters like Ghayal, Damini, Ghatak, and Gadar, Deol's legacy continues to roar. His recent success, Gadar 2, reaffirmed his star power, grossing over ₹500 crore. But his latest film, Jaat, which is currently running strong, almost went to another star before Deol signed on.
Balakrishna Was the First Choice
In a recent interview with TeluguOne, Jaat director Gopichand Malineni dropped a bombshell—Sunny Deol wasn’t the first actor he had in mind. The story was originally pitched to Telugu superstar Nandamuri Balakrishna. When asked if he had previously pitched the script before their 2023 collaboration, Veera Simha Reddy, Gopichand revealed, “Yes, the first story I thought of is now Jaat.”
Why Balakrishna Turned It Down
Following the release of Akhanda, Balakrishna had a clear vision for his next project. “After Akhanda, people had high expectations. He wanted a faction-style film, so we went with Veera Simha Reddy instead,” Gopichand explained. As a fan of Balakrishna’s iconic roles in Samarasimha Reddy and Narasimha Naidu, Gopichand happily pivoted.
Also Read: Sunny Deol's another blockbuster loading! Jaat crosses 45 lakh in 24 hrs of advance booking
Sunny Deol Brings the North to a South-style Film
Ultimately, Jaat found its perfect match in Sunny Deol. Gopichand shared his joy about the film's reception in the Hindi belt, saying he witnessed fans dancing in theatres to the end credits song. “It was a South-style film with a North Indian hero,” he said proudly.
Box Office and Cast
Jaat stars Sunny Deol alongside Randeep Hooda and Regina Cassandra. The film follows a mysterious outsider who comes to the aid of a struggling village. Since its April 10 release, Jaat has collected over ₹85.65 crore net in India and ₹115.10 crore globally.
