Blockbuster filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga hit the bullseye with his action drama film, Animal (2023), starring Ranbir Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, and Bobby Deol, which minted more than 800 crores at the box office. Having made his filmmaking debut in Telugu with Arjun Reddy (2017), the hit director later remade the film in Hindi under the title Kabir Singh (2019) before scaling new heights with Animal last year. In the meantime, Sandeep Reddy Vanga, who will soon begin filming his upcoming film, Spirit, with Telugu superstar Prabhas, sat down for a candid conversation with National Award-winning film critic Baradwaj Rangan, the Editor-in-Chief of Galatta Plus, to talk about his filmmaking journey, while also sharing his love for Tamil cinema.
Sandeep Reddy Vanga, during the interview, went on to reveal that there were many recent Tamil films that grabbed his attention starting with Dhanush's Vada Chennai (2018) and Karnan (2021). He also expressed his adoration for director Gautham Menon's films, including Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010). Sandeep further stated that he loved 'Ulaganayagan' Kamal Haasan's Vikram (2022) before revealing a surprise detail about filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj's next film, the tentatively titled Thalaivar 171, starring 'Superstar' Rajinikanth.
Speaking about Thalaivar 171, Sandeep Reddy Vanga went on to reveal that he has already watched the teaser of the upcoming Rajinikanth-starrer directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. He said, "I saw the teaser. Rajini sir's teaser. Lokesh is doing it. That one I want to watch." This latest Thalaivar 171 update from Sandeep Reddy Vanga is also the first big confirmation about the film's teaser that is gearing up for its release on April 22 and will no doubt come as a surprise news for fans, who were treated to a special poster featuring Rajinikanth last month. Thalaivar 171 marks the first time Rajinikanth and Lokesh Kanagaraj are collaborating and all sights are set on the duo to come out with a cracker of an entertainer, which will also include songs and a background score by 'Rockstar' Anirudh Ravichander.
Watch Sandeep Reddy Vanga in conversation with Baradwaj Rangan in the video below: