Yes, you heard it right, Vidyut is lord of the jungle and he will have an elephant for a friend in Rohan Sippy's action thriller which is being produced by Junglee Pictures. Back in 1961, Shammi Kapoor had screaming, `Yahoo! Chahe Koi Mujhe Junglee Kaye` as he went sliding down the snow with debutante Saira Banu in Subodh Mukherjee's Junglee.

Half a century later, Vidyut Jammwal is gearing up for another Junglee, and he'll have a family of elephants for company. Produced by Junglee Pictures and directed by Rohan Sippy, the action thriller about a unique friendship between man and beast will roll early next year.

Vidyut plays an animal loving vet out to uncover a deadly poaching racket that took away his father and wiped out his beloved elephant's family. Director Rohan Sippy reveals that the idea came to him because of his three-year old daughter who has brought back memories of some of the films he loved watching as a child.

`I grew up before television arrived on the scene so the biggest treat for my friends and me was when my dad (Ramesh Sippy) would bring a projector home and screen Haathi Mere Saathi for us. That was one film I watching on every birthday for at least three-four years. And that's what triggered off the idea of Junglee,` he informs.

The director plans to shoot with an actual elephant but as with Jungle Book and the 3D battle sequences in Game of Thrones, technology will play a role in making the shoot easy and the film larger-than-life.


President of Junglee pictures, Priti Shahani shares that Rohan came to them with the concept early this year. `It's not just an action film but has a strong emotional chord, much has been discussed globally about cruelty to animals and though an off-beat subject, it should appeal to all age groups,` she asserts, pointing out that she can't remember the last time we saw a film revolves around an elephant and a man. `It begins with their friendship and then moves to how we kill the animals for their skin or tusk. The idea is to make a commercial entertainer which makes us think.`

Vidyut who has lived in Kerela, learnt Kalaripayattu there, grown up in the midst of nature and with all cats, dogs and elephants as friends, connected with the subject instantly. `I am a huge animal lover and this is a great adventure drama,` he avers, adding that since he heard the narration, he has been working with the team to create a new kind of action that no one in the world has seen yet. `There is a lot of research and planning involved with this aspect of the film.`

Rohan admits that he's loved Vidyut since he saw him for the first time in Force. `With an actor like Vidyut you can design a choreography-style of action. Films that we can enjoy as a family need to comeback,` he maintains.

President of Junglee pictures Priti Shahani shared. "It's a story that has a strong emotional chord and is relevant and relatable in today's context. There is a global awareness and movement to stop poaching of animals and the story touches on this organically. It's a story that will make a connect across all age groups. The idea is to make a commercial entertainer that makes an impact and also leaves us thinking".