‘Now, Pawan Kalyan Can’t Run Behind The item girl and sing songs, We Need to Maintain the Decorum of a Deputy CM,’ says ‘Ustaad Bhagat Singh’ Director Harish Shankar (EXCLUSIVE)

Filmmaker Harish Shankar, known for helming massy blockbusters like "Mirapakay," "Gabbar Singh," "Ramayya Vasthavayya" and "DJ: Duvvada Jagannadham," among others, is currently gearing up for the release of "Ustaad Bhagat Singh."

The Pawan Kalyan, which is set to hit the screens on March 19, marks Harish’s reunion with the ‘Power Star’ after the monstrous blockbuster “Gabbar Singh.” While expectations are sky-high from this actor-director duo, in an exclusive interview with Variety India, director Harish Shankar opens up about reuniting with the megastar, his bond with Ravi Teja and which filmmakers shaped his sense of commercial cinema.

Edited excerpts from the interview:

What Pawan Kalyan fans could expect from 'Ustaad Bhagat Singh'?

In one line, my answer would be, whatever they want to expect, they can. I am here to serve every expectation of Pawan Kalyan fans, as well as moviegoers and movie buffs. It's a solid entertainment. I'm not saying it's a comedy. Because for me, entertainment is a wholesome package of action sequences, songs, high-voltage scenes, and people are waiting for epic dialogues. So, the wholesome entertainment. 'Ustaad Bhagat Singh' is a special entertainer. 

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Since you are reuniting with Pawan Kalyan after ‘Gabbar Singh,’ do you feel you have a strong responsibility on your shoulders due to the actor-politician’s charm, aura and popularity among the audience?

Since our previous film, ‘Gabbar Singh,’ was an industry hit, people have a lot of expectations from the combination. So, I do keep that in mind. At the same time, sir, there are definitely certain responsibilities that have increased because of his designation as a Deputy CM of Andhra Pradesh. So, when fans are asking me on social media, ‘Sir, do we have an item song?’ They are comparing the film with ‘Gabbar Singh.’’ So, I said, every song will be an item, but there won't be an item song because somehow I want to maintain the decorum of a Deputy CM. Now, he can't run behind the item girl and sing songs. At this point, I don't think that will be his thing to do now.

So, keeping his decorum at the same time, I'm known for my mass and heroism elevation and because of Pawan sir's success, his image is skyrocketing and now is in stars. So, for our audience, it will be a feast to watch that aura and heroism. So, we are a little more responsible compared to our ‘Gabbar Singh’ days. 

How do you perfectly blend a family entertainer with a massy touch?

Satisfying fans with his (Pawan Kalyan) kind of image and his kind of aura is a pretty comfortable job. But today, because of the digital revolution and the introduction of  YouTube, InstaReel, Shorts and all things, I want every movie lover to love my film. If it serves only the fans' purpose, I don't think I'll be doing 100% justice. So, the kind of family drama and entertainment coming in the film will be loved by every movie lover and every audience. 

How do you describe your bond with Ravi Teja? 

Ravi Teja is not just a film hero for me. I treat him as my big brother. And the kind of confidence he has in me is more than the confidence I have in myself. He made me the director and even when the first film didn't work at the box office, he gave me a second chance with ‘Mirapakay,’ which was a huge blockbuster in 2011 Pongal. So, irrespective of hits and flops, we do share more than a brotherhood. He's God to me. 

Do you see yourself as a director first or a writer first?

As a director. Because I hail from a theatre backdrop. So, I have a specific understanding about characterizations and their performances, their body language, staging a scene, and the dialogue, modulation, diction, how to extract them and how to capture them. I mark myself as a director first. I respect every writer, in a way to say that. At the same time, when I made a couple of remakes, I respected the other writers, and it brought out the potential of a director in me. So, I myself see a director first, then a writer.

Which filmmakers shaped your sense of commercial cinema?

A lot. It's not just films. Right from Raj Kapoor, ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ to Sandeep Reddy, Vanga and many others. So, my journey of learning starts from each and every film that is released on the previous Friday. And having said that, I do have a strong affection or love towards the making style and the script selection of pre-editions. I am a huge fan of David Dhawan, Raju Hirani and Sanjay Leela Bhansali.