📌 Key Points
- Harish Shankar apologized to Mahesh Babu’s fans after a controversial social media reply.
- The director’s response to a tweet about box office collections sparked backlash.
- Ustaad Bhagat Singh, starring Pawan Kalyan, is now releasing on March 19.
- Mahesh Babu’s next film, Varanasi, is directed by SS Rajamouli, releasing in 2027.
Director Harish Shankar faced criticism after a social media interaction perceived as disrespectful to Mahesh Babu. He quickly apologized for the ‘unintentional mistake.’ Meanwhile, details emerge about Mahesh Babu’s ‘Varanasi’ and ‘Ustaad Bhagat Singh’.
Harish Shankar’s Apology
Harish Shankar made a reply to a post went viral and drew backlash from fans of Mahesh Babu. The director deleted the post and issued an apology.
Harish Shankar is gearing up for the release of his next directorial, Ustaad Bhagat Singh. The director found himself in soup after replying to an X post that seemed to take a dig at Mahesh Babu and his film’s box-office collections. His response did not sit well with Mahesh Babu fans. On March 11, Harish Shankar issued an official statement on the matter and apologised to the fans.
Ustaad Bhagat Singh Release
‘This was an unintentional mistake’
It all started when a user tweeted on X that Ustaad Bhagat Singh should surpass box office records set by Mahesh Babu’s movies. Harish Shankar replied with the Telugu word Thadastu, which loosely means “so be it”. He immediately realised the mistake and deleted the tweet.
Varanasi: Mahesh Babu’s Next
Pawan Kalyan’s much-delayed Ustaad Bhagat Singh was initially scheduled to be released on March 26, but was preponed. It will now release on March 19. The film is an adaptation of Atlee and Vijay’s 2016 film Theri and has been in production since 2023. Sreeleela , Raashii Khanna, and others play key roles. Devi Sri Prasad and Thaman S composed the film’s music and background score.
Mahesh Babu will be seen next in Varanasi, directed by SS Rajamouli. The makers recently released the grand teaser, giving fans a glimpse of Mahesh Babu’s Rudhra wielding a trishul, covered in blood, and riding a bull. Priyanka Chopra plays Mandakini, while Prithviraj Sukumaran appears as the antagonist, Kumbha. The film’s music is composed by Oscar-winning MM Keeravani, with the story penned by V. Vijayendra Prasad. It will release in theatres on April 7, 2027.
Harish Shankar’s apology attempts to quell fan anger, while anticipation builds for both ‘Ustaad Bhagat Singh’ and Mahesh Babu’s future project. All eyes are now on their upcoming releases and box office performance.
