After the massive success of Gabbar Singh, Powerstar Pawan Kalyan and Harish Shankar have teamed up once again for the film Ustaad Bhagat Singh. The movie is produced prestigiously under the banner of Mythri Movie Makers by Naveen Yerneni and Yalamanchili Ravi Shankar. Raashii Khanna and Sreeleela are the female leads. Devi Sri Prasad composed the songs, while S. Thaman handled the background score. Ahead of the March 19 release, Raashii Khanna spoke with the media and shared several insights about the film. Here’s the transcript.
How did you come on board for Ustaad Bhagat Singh?
The moment I heard it was Pawan Kalyan garu’s film, I said yes with great excitement, even before hearing the story. I heard a lot about his stardom and the phenomenon called Pawanism ever since my first film. From then on, I wished to act with him at least once, and my dream came true with Ustaad Bhagat Singh.
Could you tell us about your role in the film?
I play Shloka in Ustaad Bhagat Singh. She is a very modern girl. Every character, including mine, is important to the story. I have a mass song, and since I enjoy dancing, I enjoyed shooting for that song.
How was it working with Pawan Kalyan Garu?
Pawan Garu is a very simple person. He always reads books. There is an innocence about him that is hard to explain. On the first day of the shoot, he asked me if I wanted to become an actress. I told him that I actually wanted to become an IAS officer. He speaks less, but every word he says carries value. Pawan Kalyan garu always thinks about people.
What would you say about director Harish Shankar?
He understands the pulse of the mass audience superbly. He worked tirelessly for the film and even sacrificed sleep. What was supposed to be a 120-day shoot got completed in 40 days. He often writes punch dialogues on the sets. I learned a lot from him.
What can audiences expect from Ustaad Bhagat Singh?
It’s an entertaining film just like Gabbar Singh. Ustaad Bhagat Singh is a complete family entertainer and the perfect treat for Ugadi. Most importantly, the audience will get to see the vintage Pawan Kalyan garu on screen.
Can you tell us about your upcoming projects?
Currently, I am working on a Hindi film with Akshay Kumar and also doing Farzi Season 2. I am also part of Amazon Prime Video’s web series in which I play a Punjabi police officer. All my dialogues are in Punjabi. In Tamil, I am doing a film called Rowdy & Co. Coming to Telugu, I am listening to scripts.
