Chuck Russell to direct an Indian film

Hollywood filmmaker Chuck Russell who is known for films like Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, The Mask, Eraser and The Scorpion King, is going to direct an Indian film titled Junglee. Before this, it was announced that Commando 2 actor Vidyut Jammwal will be playing the lead role in Junglee, an action-adventure film revolving around a man and an elephant. The action-thriller film unfolds in the Jungles of Kerala and will be shot in the state’s elephant reserve. Vidyut Jammwal plays the character of Ashwath who is coming home from Mumbai for his mother’s 10th death anniversary and reuniting with his elephant friend. Priti Shahani, president of the production house Junglee Pictures Limited, says, “The stunning location is a part of the storytelling and from the research perspective, the poaching trail in India starts from Kerala, passes through Orissa and Kolkata in West Bengal to head to Thailand.” She is quick to add that the animals will not be expected to perform any tricks, rather the makers are working closely with animal handlers to understand how elephants behave in their natural habitat and interact with humans. “The script is being written around them,” she adds. Priti also highlighted the fact that Chuck was their go-to person because animals were a part of his narratives, be it the dog in The Mask or the camels in The Scorpion King. She further informs, “Also, surprisingly, for an American director, he loves song and dance which will be an integral part of our commercial entertainer with a message.” With Chuck being on board, there is a possibility for Junglee to turn into an English film to which Priti replied, “We have written it primarily for a Hindi-speaking audience but Chuck’s involvement reinstates that the story has the ability to connect with an international audience too and can be turned into a Hindi-English bilingual.”