In 1999, something unprecedented was happening in Chiranjeevi's career. An ambitious international project titled The Return of The Thief of Baghdad (titled Abu: Baghdad Gaja Donga in Telugu) was launched. This was to be made as a grand Hollywood-Tollywood collaboration. Its rumoured budget? About Rs 40 Cr. Unless the movie became a hit in Hindi too, there is no way that budget was sustainable.
Director Suresh Krissna joined forces with Hollywood filmmaker Douchan Gersi for this one. AR Rahman was the music director. So, whatever happened to the project?
A local rumour during the film's Rajasthan schedule sealed its fate. "The art and production design team attempted to age prop scrolls to make them look like ancient Arabic manuscripts by dipping papers (containing religious text/scripture) in tea decoction and drying them," Times of India reported at that time. Local religious leaders and Islamic groups raised severe objections, alleging disrespect to holy scriptures. Protests broke out near the location. The makers suspended the schedule. Later, a court intervened. All of this resulted in a long gap. Financiers backed out of the project sensing trouble. Since the budget was Rs 40 Cr, nobody dared to gamble their money. They feared that courts and governments might ban the film to appease religious sentiments.
Nearly three decades later, Chiranjeevi's dream of an English-language film release remains unfulfilled.
