Harish Shankar, a prominent figure in the Telugu film industry, has often found himself embroiled in controversies throughout his career. Known for his candid and outspoken nature, the director recently courted yet another controversy during a press meet.
A journalist’s innocent inquiry about the quality of Telugu films made on a limited budget and the focus on remakes by Geetha Arts triggered an unexpected outburst from Harish Shankar, who vehemently defended the industry’s creative choices.
The press meet started off on a seemingly normal note, with journalists raising questions about the current state of Telugu cinema. However, when a journalist probed Harish Shankar about the lack of quality Telugu films made on limited budgets and Geetha Arts’ emphasis on remakes instead of original projects, it struck a nerve.
Caught off guard by the question, Harish Shankar’s initially composed demeanor quickly dissolved into anger. In a tone laced with frustration, he retorted, “Only movies exist, not remakes or dubbed films!” The director’s fiery response took everyone by surprise, as his outburst seemed unwarranted considering he had no direct connection to the movie being discussed. His anger seemed to stem from a perceived attack on the Telugu film industry as a whole.
Currently, Harish Shankar is busy with Pawan Kalyan’s ‘Ustaad Bhagat Singh’ which is an official remake of Vijay’s ‘Theri’. The movie’s shooting is in progress and likely to hit the screens for summer or Dasara next year.