Vijay Sethupathi Confirms Maharaja 2, Hollywood Remake In The Works

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Vijay Sethupathi has never hidden his ambition to work in Hollywood. Now, one of his own films might get him there first.

The actor has confirmed that his 2024 Tamil thriller Maharaja is being adapted for a Hollywood audience, even as a Tamil sequel, Maharaja 2, moves into development with director Nithilan Saminathan. Sethupathi shared both updates while attending the audio launch of his upcoming film Baththa, putting to rest months of speculation about where the Maharaja universe was headed next.

Photo Credit: Instagram: @pvrcinemas_official

A Barber's Revenge Story That Travelled Further Than Anyone Expected

Maharaja was never built to be a global hit. Made on a budget of roughly ₹20 crore, the slow-burn revenge drama went on to collect around ₹190 crore worldwide, according to trade reports. Its biggest surprise came in China, where it reportedly earned over ₹90 crore and, per IMDb, even surpassed the lifetime China collections of Prabhas's Baahubali 2, making it the highest-grossing South Indian film in that market. A strong run on Netflix later introduced the film to an entirely new audience worldwide.

That reach appears to be exactly why a Hollywood studio came calling. Producer Sudhan Sundaram earlier revealed that an American agency picked up the Hollywood rights to Maharaja, setting the remake in motion.

"I've Always Had A Big Interest In Working In Hollywood"

Sethupathi didn't downplay how much the news meant to him.

"It gives me such great surprise and happiness. I've always had a big interest in working in Hollywood, but more than anything, I'm extremely happy that my movie is going to Hollywood," he said.

He went further, offering to star in the English-language version without taking a fee, provided the makers cast him in it. It's a striking offer from an actor with a full slate of work, and one that underlines how personally he's invested in seeing Maharaja travel beyond Tamil cinema. To be clear, Sethupathi has not been officially cast in the Hollywood version - this is an expression of interest, not a confirmed deal.

Nithilan's "Beautiful" Story For Maharaja 2

While the Hollywood remake takes shape elsewhere, the more immediate update for Tamil audiences is Maharaja 2. Sethupathi confirmed that Nithilan Saminathan has already narrated the sequel's story to him.

"Nithilan is an excellent director, his writing sense is so good. He recently told me the story of Maharaja 2, which was so beautiful," Sethupathi said.

No release date, cast list or plot details have been announced yet. The original film starred Sethupathi as a barber whose search for a stolen tin box unravels into a far darker mystery, with Anurag Kashyap, Sachana Namidass and Natty Subramaniam in key roles.