Pawan Kalyan’s ‘Ustaad Bhagat Singh’ Director Harish Shankar On His Film Coming A Week After ‘Dhurandhar 2’ And ‘Toxic’: ‘It’s A Celebration Of Cinema, Not A Competition’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Tollywood actor and Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Pawan Kalyan, is gearing up for the release of his big-ticket entertainer titled “Ustaad Bhagat Singh.” 

The massy actioner is among the most eagerly awaited Telugu films of the year.

While fans can’t wait to witness the magnetic onscreen persona of Pawan Kalyan, who is fondly called 'Power Star' by fans, the excitement is also on account of this film arriving a week after two big tentpole movies, “Dhurandhar 2” and “Toxic.”

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While three big releases in such a short span can impact the number of assigned screens and shows, “Ustaad Bhagat Singh” director Harish Shankar says that for him, this is a celebration of cinema and not a competition. 

“Even during the festive weekend of Pongal, when multiple films are released, I don't see one film to another film as a competitive thing because I think it's a celebration of cinema, not a competition of cinema,” Harish Shankar tells Variety India.

 

 

 

 

 

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Explaining that the genre of “Ustaad Bhagat Singh” is different from Yash and Ranveer Singh’s movies, he adds, “So, and as far as I know, from whatever content the films have released, our genres are completely different. Our audience base is completely different from ‘Dhurandhar 2’ and ‘Toxic.’”

Sharing the thought that every film is an Indian cinema, irrespective of its language, the filmmaker asserts, “We have crossed the language barriers. We have crossed everything. Now, whoever speaks about cinema from the industry should speak of it as Indian cinema. My film may not be a pan-India film. But still, I respect every filmmaker in the country and I wish them wholehearted success.” 

Talking about “Ustaad Bhagat Singh,” the film marks the reunion of Harish Shankar and Pawan Kalyan after “Gabbar Singh,” which was an industry hit.

The film also features Sreeleela, Raashii Khanna, Ashutosh Rana, Nawab Shah, B. S. Avinash, Gautami and Chammak Chandra and is set to hit the screens on March 26.