'Harish Shankar's Lucknow Connection
After completing the filming of the Telugu movie 'Mr Bachchan: Naam Tho Suna Hoga,' director Harish Shankar expressed his desire to return to Lucknow for another project, citing the city's conducive filming environment and supportive officials.
'I've long considered shooting a project in Lucknow, but the right script had一直困扰着我,' Shankar revealed. 'The remake of 'The Raid' (2018) gave me that opportunity. The script demanded it, so we settled on Shivgarh Palace, where the original was shot six years ago.'
Shankar lauded the assistance he received from his line producer and government officials, who facilitated shooting during festivals like Holi and Eid. 'Such support is invaluable, and it's why I'm eager to return to Lucknow,' he said.
Adaptation and Appreciation
Shankar made significant alterations to the original 'Raid' script to suit Telugu audiences. 'I shared the revised version with director Rajkumar Gupta and actor Ajay Devgn during the 'Raid 2' launch, and they were delighted,' he said. 'The makers of the original film also partnered with us on this project.'
Coincidentally, both the original 'Raid' and its Telugu remake were shot in Lucknow simultaneously. 'The makers of the original are eager to see the Telugu version, and I'm looking forward to watching the sequel and possibly remaking it in the future,' Shankar said.
Remake Success
Shankar has a proven track record with hit remakes. 'I've made nine films, and this is my third remake,' he said. 'I write my own stories, but I draw inspiration from various sources, including real events, literature, and books.'
His remake of 'Dabangg' (2010) titled 'Gabbar Singh' (2012) was a blockbuster, and his remake of 'Jigarthanda' (2014) titled 'Gaddalakonda Ganesh' (2019) was also successful. 'Remaking a film may seem easy, but it's equally challenging,' Shankar said.
Upcoming Projects
Shankar has already shot 30% of the feature film 'Ustaad Bhagat Singh' with actor-politician Pawan Kalyan. 'Kalyan is currently contesting elections, so the film is on hold,' he said. 'We'll resume shooting once he's finished.'
Shankar also revealed plans for a 'pan-India film' set on the India-Pakistan border. 'It's inspired by a real incident, but it will be a fictional story,' he said. 'Cinema is meant to entertain. We see enough reality in our daily lives, so I aim to provide audiences with something that's enjoyable and stress-relieving.''
