Producer Dil Raju has confirmed that Salman Khan will appear in multiple distinct looks in his upcoming action entertainer with director Vamshi Paidipally, tentatively titled SVC63. Speaking on the Raw Talks With VK podcast, Raju said the shoot is targeted to wrap by October 2026, calling the film "massive" and predicting it will be a blockbuster. The film also stars Nayanthara and is being eyed for an Eid 2027 release.
What Happened: Dil Raju Confirms Salman Khan's Multiple Looks
The update came directly from the source closest to the production. Veteran producer Dil Raju, appearing on the Telugu podcast Raw Talks With VK, gave fans their most detailed look yet at the progress of SVC63 — the still-untitled Salman Khan action entertainer directed by Vamshi Paidipally.
Raju confirmed that the film's shoot is expected to be completed by October, describing the project as massive and expressing confidence that it will turn out to be a big blockbuster. On the question that has generated the most fan curiosity — Khan's appearance in the film — Raju was equally direct: "Salman is enjoying on the sets, he will have different looks. The film will have lots of heroism and wow factor."
That single line did more to fuel anticipation than any poster could have. For an actor whose screen identity has remained fairly consistent across the last decade — the leather jacket, the aviators, the signature swagger — a confirmed "multi-look" role signals a deliberate departure, not a marketing gimmick.
Why This Detail Matters More Than It Sounds
In Indian commercial cinema, a star's "look" is rarely cosmetic. It is shorthand for character arc. When a producer publicly flags multiple looks before a single official poster has dropped, it usually means the film's narrative depends on visible transformation — different timelines, different identities, or a character who evolves dramatically across the runtime. Dil Raju's willingness to openly call the project "massive" and predict blockbuster status is itself a signal that the production team is confident about the scale of what they are building, and that confidence is now being paired with a transformation narrative for Khan specifically.
This is also strategically timed. Just two weeks before Raju's podcast appearance, Khan had already stepped out in public with a shaved-head look, layered with a black vest, ripped jeans, and a leather jacket, at Aamir Khan Productions' 25-year celebration event for Lagaan. The rugged new styling, appearing while Khan was in the middle of shooting SVC63, was widely read as an early, unofficial glimpse of his next on-screen phase rather than a one-off public appearance. Raju's podcast comments now retroactively confirm that the look fans spotted at that event was not an isolated stylistic choice — it is one of several avatars Khan will carry through the film.
Background: How SVC63 Came Together
To understand why this project carries unusual weight in the industry, it helps to trace how it was assembled — because every name attached to it arrived with its own track record and its own stakes.
The announcement. Salman Khan officially announced the project on March 30, sharing a photo with director Vamshi Paidipally on social media with the caption "Dil, Dimag, Jigar se from this April," tagging Paidipally and producer Dil Raju. It marked the first time all three — Khan, Paidipally, and Raju — had worked together.
Who Vamshi Paidipally is. For audiences less familiar with Telugu cinema, Paidipally is one of the industry's most respected directors of big-budget, star-driven films. He debuted with the Prabhas-starrer "Munna" and went on to direct "Brindavanam" with Jr NTR and "Yevadu" with Ram Charan and Allu Arjun. He is also known for hits such as "Varisu" and "Maharshi".
Who Dil Raju is. Raju has produced more than 60 films and has won two National Film Awards, for "Maharshi" and "Shatamanam Bhavati," through his banner Sri Venkateswara Creations. He and Paidipally have collaborated on five previous films together, all of which performed strongly at the box office — a track record that explains why trade observers are treating this pairing as more than a routine star vehicle.
Production timeline so far:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Cast: Nayanthara's Return and What She Brings
Beyond Khan, the film's other headline name is Nayanthara. She plays the female lead, marking her return to Hindi cinema following her debut in "Jawan" — a film that itself became one of the highest-grossing Hindi releases of recent years. Her casting alongside Khan gives SVC63 crossover appeal across both Hindi and South Indian audiences, a strategy that mirrors Paidipally's own career of working fluently across language industries.
Industry observers note that the combination of Khan, Nayanthara, Paidipally, and Raju has already generated considerable anticipation, with Nayanthara's casting adding further interest among audiences in both markets.
Why It Matters: The Stakes Behind a "Comeback" Narrative
This is the context most coverage glosses over, and it's the part that actually explains why a podcast quote about "different looks" became national entertainment news within hours.
Khan's 2025 release "Sikandar," directed by AR Murugadoss, failed to meet expectations despite a high-profile build-up — notable because Murugadoss had previously delivered a blockbuster with "Ghajini". That underperformance added real pressure on Khan to deliver a strong follow-up, and SVC63 is widely being read in the trade as the project meant to answer that pressure.
It's worth noting Khan's history with South Indian directors carries both triumphant and cautionary chapters. The clearest turning point in his career came in 2009 with "Wanted," directed by Prabhu Deva — a remake of the Telugu blockbuster "Pokiri" starring Mahesh Babu — which is widely credited with reviving Khan's career after a run of underperforming films and cemented the action-hero template he's followed since. He followed that with "Bodyguard" (2011), a remake directed by Malayalam filmmaker Siddique, which was also a box-office success. Across more than three decades, Khan has worked with South Indian directors on 11 films, with results that have swung between major hits and significant flops.
This history matters because it frames exactly what is being asked of Paidipally now: replicate the "Wanted" effect, not the more uneven outcomes from elsewhere on that list.
There is a second layer of public skepticism worth acknowledging honestly. Some industry observers and fans have pointed out that Paidipally's filmmaking style often leans heavily on star power rather than original storytelling, even as others argue his commercial sensibility could be a strong fit for Khan, with the real test being whether the film gives him a genuinely fresh, memorable role instead of recycling familiar beats. That tension — proven commercial instinct versus a hunger among audiences for novelty — is precisely what the "multi-look" strategy appears designed to address.
What Happens Next: Timeline to Watch
Here's a clear breakdown of what's confirmed, what's reported but unofficial, and what to expect in the coming months.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Once principal photography wraps in October, the realistic next milestones are a first-look poster or teaser, likely timed to maximize buzz, followed by a formal title announcement — both of which the makers appear to be holding back deliberately rather than releasing piecemeal.
Other Articles to Read:
