Mark director Vijay Kartikeyaa: Some audiences are convinced we have just rebranded Max, but…

When filmmaker Vijay Kartikeyaa made his debut film Max with Kiccha Sudeep, the buzz around the film was that it was heavily inspired by the Karthi-starrer Kaithi. Now, as he prepares to present his sophomore film, which is yet again with Sudeep in the lead, the speculation is that he’s rebranded Max as Mark, and that the script was meant to be a sequel to their successful first collaboration. That Sudeep is playing a cop yet again in a story set within a finite timeframe, just like Max, is what set these rumours in motion.

Mark is a script written for Sudeep

“This is definitely not Max 2. Some audeinces are convinced that we’ve just called the film Mark, but that the character is Max or at least within the Max universe. That is not the case; we have not just rebranded Max. In fact, when Sudeep sir and I decided to do another film together, we were sure that it would not be another instalment of Max. We wanted to explore a character with elements we did not use for Max, like, for instance, Mark has a fun side to him,” explains the filmmaker, adding that Mark is a script that has been written for Sudeep.

Vijay also says that while he has retained the technical crew of Max, barring Sudeep, of course, the entire cast is new. The filmmaker reveals that when he met Sudeep in April with two scripts and discussed them, the actor’s only condition was that irrespective of which one we decide to go ahead with, it would have to be in theatres on December 25. At the time, it seemed like a difficult task, but Vijay credits Sudeep and his team for making it possible.

Incidentally, one of the major reasons cited for the shelving of Max sequel is that there was an alleged fall-out between Sudeep and producer Kalaippuli S Thanu. Max was meant to be in theatres closer to the actor’s birthday in September, and Sudeep had begun dubbing for the film’s other language versions when the producer decided to delay the release.

Vijay Kartikeyaa: Mark is not just an action flick, there is… 

For a while, even Sudeep seemed unaware about when the film would hit theatres. When the release date was eventually announced, the actor had made it clear that it was the producer’s decision, as it was hitting theatres within days of Upendra’s directorial comeback, UI.

Interestingly, this time too, Sudeep is clashing with an Upendra film, only this time it also stars Shivarajkumar and Raj B Shetty. While both teams have brushed off the clash and stated that the Karnataka box office can accommodate two Kannada films, Sudeep has also said that he was the first to stake claim on the date, having announced it way back in early July, even before his film went on floors.

Mark the movie FAQs

Q. When will Mark be in theatres

A. Kiccha47, which was titled Mark, directed by Vijay Kartikeyaa as his sophomore project after last year's Max with Kiccha Sudeep, will be in theatres on December 25, 2025.

Q. Is Billa Ranga Baashaa shelved?

A. No. Billa Ranga Baashaa is not shelved. It is on schedule break. Sudeep will resume shooting for it once he completes Kiccha47. Billa Ranga Baashaa will likely be his Christmas 2026 release.