South Indian matinee idol Rajinikanth is likely to be in Abu Dhabi and Dubai to shoot a small portion of his upcoming action thriller Lingaa towards the end of the month, tabloid! can exclusively reveal.
According to industry sources, the 63-year-old star, known for his unique style of acting and mannerisms (flipping sunglasses and lighting cigarettes with a gun are some of his many trademark moves), will be in the UAE for over three days to film two song-dance sequences. Our mole tells us that Dubai’s Bastakiya area in Bur Dubai that exudes old world charm and a plush hotel in Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island are the locations being considered for the shoot.
If all goes well, Lingaa is the latest addition to a string of mega-budget films, including Shah Rukh Khan’s Happy New Year and Hrithik Roshan’s Bang Bang!, that have been shot in the UAE recently.
Directed by K.S. Ravikumar, Lingaa marks Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha’s debut in the South Indian film industry. The film also stars Jagapati Babu and Anushka Shetty and the music has been composed by Oscar winner A.R. Rahman.
If it’s a Rajinikanth film, then it’s a given the budget will be mammoth (remember sci-fi blockbuster Enthiran and animated 3D feature Kochadaiiyaan:The Legend). tabloid! has got to know that the song sequences set in the UAE will have more than 100 dancers in the background. The Tamil superstar is reportedly playing a double role in this film.
Lingaa is expected to release on December 12, coinciding with Rajinikanth’s birthday.
Rajinikanth is one of the biggest stars to emerge from South India and is considered to be the father of all slick moves and robust one-liners. He has more than 6,000 fan clubs in India and his legion of fans are known to lap up anything that he says on-screen. Their allegiance is tamper-proof to the reportedly second-highest paid actor in Asia after Jackie Chan.
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