On Tuesday, Sun Pictures excitedly revealed a much-anticipated partnership between iconic star Allu Arjun and acclaimed director Atlee, best known for his work on ‘Jawan.’ As fans celebrate Allu Arjun’s birthday, the film’s creators officially unveiled the collaboration, currently referred to as AA26 X A6. Sun Pictures announced the project via a dynamic video on X (formerly Twitter), hinting at a thrilling sci-fi action film in development. Following the clip’s viral success, they released a poster highlighting the impressive view count.

In their social media post, Sun Pictures wrote, “The mAAss has just begun! Over 6 million cumulative views for #AA22xA6. A Magnum Opus from Sun Pictures.”

The mAAss has just begun!⚡ 6M+ cumulative views for #AA22xA6

A Magnum Opus from Sun Pictures – https://t.co/NROyA23RWO @alluarjun @Atlee_dir #AA22 #A6 #SunPictures pic.twitter.com/M5Olo5AGeK
— Sun Pictures (@sunpictures) April 8, 2025

After the release of the poster, fans quickly pointed out its striking resemblance to the promotional material for ‘Dune,’ which featured Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, and Oscar Isaac under the direction of Denis Villeneuve. Many users on social media accused the creators of AA26 X A6 of plagiarism. Comments ranged from incredulity, with one user stating, “My brother, it hasn’t even begun and you’ve lifted the Dune poster?” to sharp criticism, with another remarking, “Atlee and his team do the best literature review.”

One user lamented, “First it was Interstellar, now it’s Dune. @Atlee_dir should have some shame.”

First it was Interstellar, second it was Dune. @Atlee_dir should have some shame. https://t.co/g7iAWzftM1 pic.twitter.com/i5Mb7lckRy
— ARVIND AKSHAY (@God_Of_Pot) April 8, 2025

As discussions escalated, many fans questioned why such blatant copying occurred, especially given the wealth of talent in Indian cinema. Despite the clear admiration for the original Dune poster, some speculated that the creators may have believed it was worth the controversy.

Meanwhile, this isn’t the first instance of Atlee facing accusations of plagiarism. Previously, he has been called out for copying elements in his films. In 2023, he addressed such allegations, stating, “In the creative field, you end up making similar stories. That doesn’t mean I copy; it can be inspired. I was inspired by MGR (Ramachandran) songs, leading me to create intro songs. I take risks… In 30 years, no one’s approached Shah Rukh Khan with such a story proposal. Do you think I’m the only one facing criticism in cinema? Many esteemed filmmakers have encountered similar issues.”

He continued, “When someone makes a quick comparison of my work to others, it doesn’t diminish my effort, honesty, and hard work. Of course, I’ve made films that share themes with others. For instance, ‘Theri’ had multiple versions before and after its release. But when I do it, it’s labeled as copying. Copying is easy; if that were the case, anyone could do it.”