A year ago, Anand Mahindra, chairman of Mahindra Group, had requested the producers of Rajinikanth’s film Kaala to give the Thar off-roader SUV used in the movie to be placed in the company’s auto museum. The businessman had seen the Superstar resting on a Thar and was bent upon having it as a collector’s piece. After the release of the film, Dhanush, who bankrolled Kaala, duly obliged, gifting the SUV to Anand. The vehicle is now on display at the Chennai Mahindra Research Valley.
People had pointed out that it was a photo shopped vehicle. Some found out the SUV had a numberplate - MH 01 BR 1956 - in the poster which was actually registered to a humble Piaggio Ape cargo delivery van in Mumbai. Anand, convinced of the SUV’s true value, remained unfazed. He had said. “The car that was photo shopped is still a collector’s item!” He had gone on to say, “The Thar is honoured to be chosen as the Superstar’s chariot.”
Anand Mahindra took to Twitter again to announce that Dhanush, true to his word, had gifted him the Thar. Tagging Dhanush he posted, “Remember I wanted the Thar used for the poster shot of Kaala for our museum? Well Dhanush obliged and it is safe at Mahindra Research Valley in Chennai. I asked our folks to strike a ‘Thalaivar’ pose and look what fun they had. Bala, the guy in the lungi is now known as ‘Kaala Bala’.
