Cinema VinesAllu Arjun’s upcoming blockbuster, Raaka, is being re‑examined by director Atlee and producer Sun Pictures for a potential two‑part release, according to insiders. The decision comes after the production team discovered that the film’s sprawling storyline and the volume of footage shot so far far exceed what can comfortably fit into a conventional three‑hour runtime. With at least four months of shooting still to complete, the creators say it would be practically impossible to compress the entire narrative into a single feature.
Sources close to the project told Bollywood Hungama that the makers have not yet finalized the split, as Atlee is still evaluating how best to structure the story. A definitive decision will be taken only after filming concludes. The director is reportedly weighing the creative advantages of a two‑part format against the financial implications, noting that a split could provide greater freedom to tell the story as envisioned while also easing the recovery pressure on the film’s hefty budget.
Raaka is being produced on a staggering Rs. 800 crore budget and is slated for a pan‑India release in the latter half of 2027. Principal photography is expected to run into the first quarter of 2027, with Allu Arjun committed to the schedule until December before he joins Lokesh Kanagaraj’s superhero project next year. The star‑studded cast includes Deepika Padukone, Mrunal Thakur, Rashmika Mandanna, and others, all of whom have expressed full confidence in Atlee’s vision for the epic.
The producers argue that a two‑part format would not only allow the narrative to unfold more fully but also improve the film’s financial viability. However, they acknowledge that the success of a second instalment would hinge on audience reception to the first. This approach mirrors the recent strategy employed by Aditya Dhar and Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar, which was split into two parts after realizing its seven‑hour footage could not be justified in a single film. Dhurandhar’s gamble paid off, with the two instalments collectively earning Rs. 2,004 crore net in India and Rs. 3,203 crore worldwide.
Atlee is determined to deliver a visual spectacle that pushes Indian cinema’s boundaries through advanced visual effects and high‑concept world‑building. While the final call on whether Raaka will launch as a single feature or a two‑part saga rests with the director, the industry watches closely, knowing that the outcome could set a new precedent for large‑scale Indian productions.
