Director Atlee has revealed that winning an Oscar is one of his biggest personal ambitions and said he hopes films such as Raaka can help him reach that milestone. Speaking at the Baththa success meet in Chennai, the filmmaker said global recognition for Indian cinema is achievable with confidence, hard work and continued effort.

Atlee Opens Up About His Oscar Dream
Atlee said the idea of winning an Oscar has become a personal goal for him and that he is determined to keep working towards it. When asked whether his upcoming film Raaka, starring Allu Arjun, could reach that level, the director said he wants to test how far he can take his cinema and believes the dream is possible. He added that if he ever gets the opportunity to stand on the Oscar stage, he would proudly speak in Tamil. Atlee also encouraged audiences and filmmakers to believe that international recognition is not beyond the reach of Indian cinema.

Shah Rukh Khan Helped Him Break Into Bollywood
The filmmaker also reflected on his journey in Hindi cinema and credited Shah Rukh Khan for believing in him. Atlee recalled that he was largely unknown in Mumbai when he first arrived, but Jawan changed his visibility and established him with a wider audience. He said the recognition he enjoys today came through sustained work rather than simply wishing for success. His collaboration with Shah Rukh Khan became a major turning point in his career and gave him a stronger platform to pursue bigger ambitions.

Atlee Says Hollywood Recognition Is Achievable
Atlee rejected the idea that wanting Hollywood to notice Indian cinema is an unrealistic or excessive ambition. According to him, aiming for global recognition reflects confidence rather than greed. He said he believes not only in himself but also in the people working with him and wants to take his team to an international stage. Even if the milestone does not come with his current projects, Atlee said he will continue trying with future films. He specifically expressed hope that both Baththa and Raaka could earn major recognition.

Raaka Mounted as a Major International Action Film
Raaka is Atlee’s next major directorial venture and marks his first collaboration with Allu Arjun. The ambitious action drama is being mounted on a large scale and also features Deepika Padukone and Keerthy Suresh in key roles. The project is expected to have an international canvas and is reportedly being planned as a two-part film. The first instalment is likely to arrive in theatres in 2027. With Atlee openly linking Raaka to his Oscar ambition, expectations around the project have grown further, especially as the director aims to take Indian commercial cinema to a bigger global platform.