Interviews

Tharun Bhascker is coming up with a quirky entertainer titled Gayapadda Simham. Kasyap Sreenivas is the director, and the film is produced jointly by Kalyana Chakravarthy Manthina, Bhanu Kiran Pratapa, Vijay Krishna Lingamaneni, and Umesh Bansal under Saptaswa Media Works, POV Stories, and Zee Studios. Manasa Choudhary and Faria Abdullah play the female leads. Ahead of the release on May 1, Faria Abdullah interacted with the media, and here’s the transcript.

Tell us about your character in the film.

I did a good cameo role in Gaayapadda Simham. I play Shalini, a vlogger. Also, I have a romantic track with Tharun garu. Director Kashyap garu wrote my character in a different way. Everything is hilarious about Gaayapadda Simham.

Could you tell us about the story?

The story has many layers, and every character holds prominence. My role has a fun element which audiences will enjoy. This is a film with ultimate repeat value.

How do you pick stories?

If I like a story then definitely I will be part of that film. Gaayapadda Simham has a crazy plot. It sounded new and it will entertain audiences.

How was it working with Tharun Bhascker garu?

He is a jovial person. His comedy timing will be on another level. I enjoyed working with Tharun Bhascker garu. Even his small expression will leave me in splits. I saw the final output. I firmly believe the film will be a hit.

Tell us about the director.

Kashyap garu’s comedy timing is very peculiar. He handled action, comedy, and romance superbly. He also played a role in the film. Not just his direction, but his acting is also amazing.

Tell us about your future projects.

I am writing stories currently, and I plan to direct a film next year. As a performer, I am doing Bhagavanthudu and Sigma. Two more projects will kickstart soon. Also, I have a film lined-up with Satyadev garu.

Tharun Bhascker will be next seen in the quirky entertainer Gayapadda Simham. Kasyap Sreenivas is the writer and director for this film, produced jointly by Kalyana Chakravarthy Manthina, Bhanu Kiran Pratapa, Vijay Krishna Lingamaneni, and Umesh Bansal under Saptaswa Media Works, POV Stories, and Zee Studios. It is presented by Pavan Sadineni. Faria Abdullah and Maanasa Choudhary played female leads, while JD Chakravarthy played a key role. Ahead of the release on May 1, JD Chakravarthy interacted with the media, and here is the transcript.

What made you come on board for Gayappada Simham?

When something is challenging in the character arc, it excites any artist. I told one thing when my character glimpse was released. I am repeating it. The characters played by Kamal Haasan garu weren’t done by others. With Gayappada Simham, I achieved what Kamal Haasan garu couldn’t with regard to the character. It’s a very unique role.

You are doing films at a very slow pace. Do you take time to pick stories?

From the starting days of my career, I have always followed this approach. Only if I like a story will I do a film.

Will Dharma’s character stand out more than the hero’s role?

Only when the story is good will a film perform well. My character name in Shiva became my own name. People will recognize only when you say JD Chakravarthy. In the same way, Bhavani, Satya, Bhiku Matre, and Kallumama characters became memorable. But when the story doesn’t work out, characters won’t strike a chord. Even if the character clicks, the movie won’t. My favorite character is in “Wife of V. Varaprasad,” but that movie didn’t perform.

A few words about director Kashyap Sreenivas.

Kashyap Sreenivas earlier worked on short films and web shows. I liked his style very much. He is very confident. He made the film with realistic and hilarious elements.

Do you think OTTs are affecting theatres?

New content is being created because of OTT. In the same manner, for a film to do well in theatres, the content must be good. A small film like Little Hearts did well in theatres. Now, audiences have multiple options. If they don’t like something, they won’t watch it on OTT either.

Adivi Sesh, known for his strong script choices, is gearing up to entertain audiences with the romantic action drama Dacoit. The movie, also starring Mrunal Thakur, is set to hit theatres on April 10. The film is backed by Supriya Yarlagadda and co-produced by Suniel Narang, with Annapurna Studios presenting it. Dacoit marks the directorial debut of Shaniel Deo and the Tollywood debut of Anurag Kashyap. Ahead of the release, Adivi Sesh interacted with the media, and here’s the transcript.

Your previous films also had love stories. What’s so unique about Dacoit?

In my previous films, love stories became helpful in reaching the big platform. They were a small part of the films. For Dacoit love story forms the core. You will love to see action in a romantic film, but you will be disappointed to see a romantic track in an actioner. Emotions will be organic.

Dacoit was delayed. What’s the reason for it?

To be honest, there was no delay. It’s the way I do films. For the last two years, I have been working non-stop. Since there hasn’t been a release, you might feel that way.

Whose idea was it to include the Kannepettaro song remix?

In one of the scenes, the protagonist will be in an enjoyable mood. When narrating that sequence, Surpiya garu asked me when I danced for the first time. I told her that I danced to Kannepettaro and Cheez Bade Hey songs. She suggested that we should include those songs. The placement of the song will be good.

When did you think of releasing Dacoit in Dolby Cinema?

We had that thought from the very beginning. One day, Allu Aravind Garu called and asked me for collaboration, as he felt the movie was promising. I was very pleased to hear that and agreed without any second thoughts.

What challenges did you face while doing stunts?

It’s always tough doing stunts and chase sequences. I got hurt in the knee, too. Hence, the production was delayed by two to three months. Because of the injury, Goodachari 2 was also affected. Doctors suggested me not to perform action sequences. In Dacoit, fights are more in number than stunts. We shot on top of the mountains in extreme heat.

You look the same as you did during your initial days. What’s the secret?

I don’t smoke. I don’t consume alcohol. Also, I won’t eat non-veg food. Since I grew up in America, I can’t eat spicy food (laughs).

With the Pan-India action romantic thriller Dacoit set to hit theaters on April 10, 2026, Mrunal Thakur is all set to showcase a completely new side of herself. Starring Adivi Sesh and featuring Anurag Kashyap in a key role, the film is directed by debutant Shaniel Deo and backed by Annapurna Studios. On this occasion, we caught up with Mrunal Thakur for a quick chat. Here are the excerpts.

What drew you to Dacoit and your character Saraswati?

What really excited me was the emotional journey of the character. Saraswati is layered and complex, and the story explores why these characters turn into dacoits. It’s not just action, there’s a unique love story at the heart of it. That’s what made it very interesting for me.

You’re known for emotional roles. How different is this one?

This is completely different from what I’ve done before. Saraswati is one of the most challenging roles in my career. There’s action, intensity, and a raw emotional side. It pushed me as an actor and gave me a lot of satisfaction.

We see you doing action in the trailer. How was that experience?

I really enjoyed it. I love driving, so the chase sequences were exciting. But they were also quite risky. I had to perform intense driving scenes, including handling an ambulance in high-pressure moments. It was challenging but very thrilling.

How different is Saraswati from Sita in Sita Ramam?

They are completely different. Audiences have seen me in a certain light before, but this film shows a totally new side. I think that surprise factor will really connect.

How was it working with Adivi Sesh and Anurag Kashyap?

Sesh is extremely dedicated and very involved in every aspect of filmmaking. It was inspiring to work with him, and I feel this will be one of his best performances. Anurag sir is very versatile, and his role in the film will be quite special.

The film is shot in both Telugu and Hindi. Was that challenging?

Yes, performing in two languages added a layer of difficulty, but it also made the experience more exciting. It required a different level of focus.

The music has already created buzz. What can we expect?

Yes, “Rubaroo” has been getting great response, and there’s more to come. The music is definitely one of the highlights of the film.

What can audiences expect from Dacoit overall?

It’s a film with strong emotions, intense action, and a different kind of love story. Visually also, it will feel very fresh. It’s a complete theatrical experience, and I’m sure it will surprise audiences.