Dominic took to social media to share a picture with Allu Arjun and described the interaction as a memorable fanboy moment. The director revealed that he had the opportunity to hear the actor’s thoughts on Lokah and said that the appreciation meant a great deal to him.
“A big fanboy moment. Had the wonderful opportunity to meet “THE” Allu Arjun and hear his thoughts on Lokah. His appreciation for the film and his encouragement for the chapters ahead genuinely meant a lot. Some days, you meet someone you’ve admired for years and just forget what to say. This was one of those days. Grateful for the love, the kind words. Thank you, Sir.”
From Tharangam to Lokah
The meeting comes at a significant point in Dominic Arun’s career. The filmmaker made his directorial debut with Tharangam in 2017, a quirky crime comedy starring Tovino Thomas and Balu Varghese. Produced by Dhanush, the film marked the actor-producer’s first Malayalam production and earned critical appreciation for its distinctive approach, even though its theatrical performance did not match its reception.
Dominic’s fortunes changed dramatically with Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra. Released in August 2025, the film starred Kalyani Priyadarshan as Chandra, a mysterious superhero character rooted in Kerala folklore, with Naslen playing a key role. Tovino Thomas, Sandy Master, Chandu Salimkumar and Dulquer Salmaan were also part of the ensemble.
Blending elements of fantasy, folklore and superhero cinema, Lokah introduced audiences to an ambitious cinematic universe planned across multiple chapters. The film became a major theatrical phenomenon, eventually crossing the Rs 300 crore mark worldwide. It became the first Malayalam film to reach that milestone and, at the time, emerged as the highest-grossing Malayalam film worldwide.
Lokah’s records have since been surpassed
While Lokah remains one of Malayalam cinema’s landmark blockbusters, its box-office records have since been overtaken. Vaazha 2: Biopic of a Billion Bros surpassed Lokah’s Kerala collections in April 2026 and became the highest-grossing Malayalam film in the state.
Lokah itself had already completed its theatrical run by late 2025, following its successful run in cinemas and subsequent OTT release. Its place in Malayalam cinema’s recent history, however, remains significant, particularly for demonstrating the commercial potential of an ambitious, female-led fantasy superhero film.
Allu Arjun’s appreciation is particularly noteworthy given his popularity in Kerala. The Pushpa star has enjoyed a huge following in the state for several years, making his response to a Malayalam film especially meaningful. His meeting with Dominic also highlights the increasing exchange of appreciation between major stars and filmmakers from different South Indian film industries.
For Dominic, the interaction comes as anticipation builds around the future chapters of the Lokah universe. His social media post specifically mentions Allu Arjun’s encouragement for the chapters ahead, although there is currently no confirmation of the actor being part of the franchise.
Meanwhile, Allu Arjun is preparing for the next phase of his career following the release of Pushpa 2: The Rule in December 2024. He is currently working on his collaboration with director Atlee, reportedly titled Raaka, while his lineup also includes a project with Lokesh Kanagaraj.
The meeting between Allu Arjun and Dominic Arun is ultimately another indication of how far Lokah has travelled since its release. While its theatrical journey is over and some of its records have already been surpassed, the film’s success has given Dominic’s ambitious universe a life well beyond its original run.
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