PremiumMarco director on what Pushpa 2 star Allu Arjun asked him: ‘He invited me to Hyderabad to...’
Marco director Haneef Adeni recently opened up about the call he received from Pushpa 2 star Allu Arjun after the blockbuster success of the Unni Mukundan-starrer across the country.
Last Updated: 04.41 PM, Jan 13, 2025
It wasn’t just Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2: The Rule that dominated the Indian box office in December. Another South film, a Malayalam movie to be specific, Marco also caught the attention of the pan-Indian audience and became an unexpected success – grossing over Rs 100 Cr worldwide, despite being rated A for its violent content.
The Haneef Adeni directorial, which was released on December 20, on just 30 screens in North India soon increased its number to over 500 and also went on to make money in the Telangana states and Tamil Nadu with its Telugu and Tamil versions. So, it’s little wonder that the film caught the attention of Allu Arjun, whose Pushpa 2 was already a box-office juggernaut.
Also read: Unni Mukundan on Pushpa 2 and Marco’s pan-Indian success: ‘Some films might have big budgets but...’
Haneef Adeni reveals what Allu Arjun asked him about Marco
In a recent interview with Mathrubhumi, Haneef confirmed that the Pushpa 2 star had indeed called him post the success of Marco. “It’s one of the most joyful moments ever,” he said. “We had talked for a while. He praised the film as well as the technicians. He was impressed by its making and especially the quality of the film. He had also invited me to travel to Hyderabad and meet him in person. I consider it a blessing to be able to talk to a star like him.”
Marco along with Pushpa 2 had given tough competition to even Bollywood films such as Varun Dhawan’s Baby John when it was released during Christmas last year.
In an interview recently, Marco star Unni Mukundan also said that movies from the South work in North Indian centers, not because it’s got a big budget or scale, but due to its content connecting with the audience.
Marco box office collections day 24
The Malayalam film, meanwhile, is nearing the end of its theatrical run. Till now, the film has grossed Rs 58.9 Cr from the Indian market. The makers have claimed that the worldwide collection has already crossed Rs 100 Cr. Pushpa 2, meanwhile, has breached Rs 1800 Cr worldwide and will be looking at its Chinese release to break the Rs 2000 Cr barrier this year.