Other than HanuMan, South films like Kalki 2898 AD, Aattam, Kottukkaali, Maharaja, Ullozhukku, Aadujeevitham, Mangalavaaram, Vaazhai, Jama, Thangalaan, and Cannes Grand Prix winner All We Imagine As Light were also some of the co-contenders.

The movie Laapataa Ladies, which was released in 2023, featured the story of two newly-wed brides who accidentally get exchanged during their train ride home to their in-laws’ houses. The comedy-drama flick later takes us on a journey of how one bride finds her way home to her husband while the other sees this as an opportunity to her denied freedom. 

The 2001 film features lead roles for Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, Chhaya Kadam, and Ravi Kishan. It also has an ensemble cast that includes Geeta Agrawal Sharma, Satendra Soni, Abeer Jain, Bhaskar Jha, Daood Hussain, and many more. The film is now available for streaming on Netflix.

The film HanuMan, released earlier in 2024, is a Telugu-language superhero movie. Directed by Prasanth Varma, it is the story of Hanumanthu, a young man from the village of Anjanadri who receives the powers of Lord Hanuman from Hindu mythology after coming in contact with a gem.

Using his newfound powers to protect the people of his village, the young man finds himself facing off against Micheal, a mysterious wannabe superhero. The film, which has Teja Sajja in the lead role, features an ensemble cast of actors like Amritha Aiyer, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Samuthirakani, Vinay Rai, Vennela Kishore, and more.

Shedding light on it, he said that every set has several people present, not just the directors and actors. While some random people talked rudely to him, the director was “actually the sweetest”, Viraj stressed. He further revealed that Atlee also called him for a role in Baby John, but due to prior commitments, he had to give it a pass. On shooting with Shah Rukh Khan, Viraj said, “Our sequences were on different days. Baat ka batangad bangaya befaaltu mai. Pata nahi kahaan se kahan baat pahuch gayi”.

For those unversed, Viraj shared his experience of working with SRK and Atlee in Jawan during a podcast. Stating that “it was my worst experience ever”, he elaborated on the work culture on the set which wasn’t very pleasant according to him. “Creators are cast for their clout only,” he had also alleged. Jawan also featured Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, Deepika Padukone, Priyamani, Sanya Malhotra, and many others.