South star Karthi said he is looking forward to Ajay Devgn-starrer Bholaa, the Hindi remake of his 2019 Tamil blockbuster Kaithi.

The remake is Ajay’s fourth project as a director and also features Tabu in a pivotal role.

Karthi, who played the lead in Kaithi, said the makers were approached by many filmmakers from across the country for the remake rights. “A lot of people called me and they wanted to buy the rights to Kaithi. But Ajay sir was the first one to get it. I’m really glad that he is doing the Hindi remake and directing it as well,” The Ponniyin Selvan: I actor told PTI.

Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, Kaithi featured Karthi as Dilli, a recently released prisoner who finds himself in a dangerous situation where he has to rush poisoned cops to a hospital in exchange for meeting his daughter.

The 45-year-old actor said he is confident that Devgn will do justice to the film’s story as well as the lead character.

Before becoming an actor with 2007’s critical hit Paruthiveeran, Karthi had served as an assistant director in Mani Ratnam’s 2004 political thriller Yuva, which featured Devgn as one of three main leads. “I have always loved the intensity in his eyes and the way he is relaxed when he's performing a scene. He brings a certain intensity to all the characters that he plays. I also love when he does action.”

“When he came in Gangubai Kathiawadi, I was clapping. So I know when he's going to play my character in Bholaa, he'll do an entirely different job,” the actor said.

Karthi also said he was aware that there might be some creative changes in store for the audiences with the Hindi remake. “I know Tabu ma’am is also doing that film and I’m a huge fan of her work, especially the movies that she made with Vishal Bharadwaj sir,” he added.

Karthi said Kanagaraj was now developing the sequel of Kaithi, which is expected to go into production next year. The filmmaker recently directed Vikram, featuring Kamal Haasan, Fahadh Faasil and Vijay Sethupathi.