Ustaad Bhagat Singh is Not a Remake, Says Harish Shankar

Director Harish Shankar, who is collaborating with Pawan Kalyan for the second time after Gabbar Singh, has finally put an end to the long-standing rumours surrounding his upcoming film Ustaad Bhagat Singh. The clarification came during the first promotional event held in Hyderabad on Saturday evening. 

At the launch of the film’s first single, Harish Shankar officially confirmed that Ustaad Bhagat Singh is neither a remake nor a love story. He described the film as a full-fledged mass entertainer that is designed to live up to the high expectations of fans and general audiences alike. He also dismissed speculation that Pawan Kalyan was responsible for the prolonged delay in the project, which took nearly five years from announcement to completion

Praising Pawan Kalyan’s work ethic, Harish Shankar revealed that the actor-turned-politician worked for more than 18 hours a day to wrap up the shoot in quick time. He admitted that the delay was entirely due to his own indecision, explaining that he initially planned a love story, then explored the idea of a remake, before discarding all those versions and finally locking a strong mass script.

Harish Shankar stated that the shoot could be completed smoothly and ahead of schedule only because of Pawan Kalyan’s support and commitment. He also shared how Pawan Kalyan would attend cabinet meetings in Mangalagiri and then return to Hyderabad to continue shooting late into the night, without taking any rest.

Ustaad Bhagat Singh is aiming for a grand theatrical release in Summer 2026. The film stars Sree Leela and Rashi Khanna as the female leads.