Power Star Pawan Kalyan and director Harish Shankar created history with their first collaboration, Gabbar Singh, which went on to become a massive blockbuster. Naturally, expectations were sky high when the duo decided to team up again. However, the second collaboration took an unusually long time to materialize, leading to widespread speculation and confusion.
The project was initially announced as Bhavadeeyudu Bhagat Singh, but it failed to take off. Later, Ustaad Bhagat Singh officially went on floors, only to face repeated delays. Over time, several rumors began circulating. Many questioned whether the film was a remake of Tamil film Theri or an original story, and a section of the media blamed Pawan Kalyan’s political commitments for slowing things down.
During the launch of the first song from Ustaad Bhagat Singh at an event held at Aditya College in Hyderabad, Harish Shankar finally addressed these rumors head on.
Harish Shankar firmly stated that Pawan Kalyan was not responsible for the delays. He explained that the real reason was the creative process itself. After Gabbar Singh, he wanted to present Pawan Kalyan in a youthful, college-based role similar to Jalsa or Khush after hardcore mass avatar in Gabbar Singh. However, once the script was ready, Harish felt the tone was too “class oriented” and might not reach fan expectations. As a result, the team decided to drop that version.
Soon after, the COVID 19 pandemic disrupted everything. Harish Shankar revealed that this period took a personal toll on him, and he went through a phase of depression. After recovering, the team briefly explored the idea of a remake, but even that did not feel right creatively. Eventually, they zeroed in on a story that truly matched Pawan Kalyan’s image and what his fans wanted to see on screen.
Harish also spoke highly of Pawan Kalyan’s dedication once the script was locked. He revealed that the film moved at great speed thereafter. Despite his responsibilities as a political leader, Pawan Kalyan remained fully committed. On several occasions, he attended cabinet meetings in Amaravati during the day and returned to Hyderabad to shoot at night. There were days when he worked for 18 to 20 hours straight, sometimes finishing shoots in the early morning and heading directly to Vijayawada.
In conclusion, Harish Shankar made it clear that Ustaad Bhagat Singh was delayed due to creative indecision, the impact of the pandemic, and his own personal struggles, not because of Pawan Kalyan. He emphasized that once everything fell into place, the project moved swiftly and credited Pawan Kalyan’s discipline and commitment for bringing the film back on track. He also gave clarity that it is not a remake.
సినిమాలన్నాక డిలే అవ్వడం, వాయిదాపడడం సర్వసాధారణం. కొన్ని సినిమాలు నెలలపాటు వాయిదా పడితే, ఇంకొన్ని ఏళ్ల తరబడి వాయిదా పడతాయి.…
ఓ రాజకీయ పార్టీ ఏర్పాటు, ఎన్నికలలో గెలుపోటములను, ప్రత్యర్ధుల సవాళ్ళు, అనూహ్యంగా పుట్టుకొచ్చే సమస్యలను తట్టుకుంటూ పార్టీ మనుగడ సాగించడం,…
