Rajinikanth’s 1980 film Billa, a remake of Amitabh Bachchan’s 1978 Don, was a turning point in his career, marking his biggest commercial success at the time. However, director Vishnuvardhan recently referred to the film as a flop in an interview, prompting a correction from Rajinikanth’s PR manager, Riaz Ahmed.
What Vishnuvardhan Said
In an interview with SS Music, Vishnuvardhan, known for directing the 2021 Hindi film Shershaah, said, “To tell you the truth, Billa didn’t run well at that time. I thought, what are we going to do? What do I like about the film? I liked that they had a dark character as the lead at that time and I thought, that is a great idea.”
He made this comment while discussing his decision to remake the 1980 film in 2007 with Ajith Kumar in the lead role.
How Rajinikanth’s Manager Reacted
The statement didn’t sit well with Rajinikanth’s PR manager, Riaz Ahmed. Sharing the interview clip on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “Dear @vishnu_dir sir, I would like to politely bring to your attention that the 1980 release #Billa was a Silver Jubilee Hit. You may kindly confirm this with the producer of the original version, Mr. Suresh Balaji. I humbly request you to ensure accuracy in your statements to avoid sharing incorrect information. #RajjniBillaBlockbuster #ThalaivarNirandharam.”
In another post, he urged journalists to verify facts and “maintain the highest standards of journalism.”
Rajinikanth’s Upcoming Work
Vishnuvardhan recently directed Nesippaya, featuring Aditi Shankar, R Sarathkumar, Prabhu, and Khushbu Sundar, which hit theatres on January 14.
Meanwhile, Rajinikanth is set to star in Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Coolie and Nelson Dilipkumar’s Jailer 2, officially announced during Pongal. Coolie also stars Nagarjuna Akkineni and Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan. Rajinikanth’s last film was TJ Gnanavel’s 2024 cop drama Vettaiyan, co-starring Amitabh Bachchan.
