Pushpa 2 Producer Ravi Shankar Responds to Pawan Kalyan’s Comment

Mythri Movie Makers’ Producer Ravi Shankar has responded to the recent controversy involving actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan, who had raised concerns about the portrayal of lead actors as smugglers in films. Shankar clarified that Pawan Kalyan’s remarks were misunderstood and taken out of context.

“Pawan Kalyan Garu was speaking in a different context. It appears people mistakenly thought he was referring to our movie. His stature is such that he wouldn’t make statements detrimental to the film industry. His comment was made in passing and does not relate to Pushpa 2,” Ravi Shankar explained.

The producer’s statement comes after Pawan Kalyan’s earlier comments this month. During a press interaction regarding his collaboration with the Forest Minister of Karnataka, Pawan Kalyan discussed the evolution of hero portrayals in films, noting a shift from forest protectors to characters akin to forest exploiters and smugglers.

Pawan Kalyan remarked, “Forty years ago, a hero was someone who protected the forest. Today, he’s someone who cuts it down. He’s a smuggler.” Expressing his struggle to comprehend contemporary cinema, in which he is also involved, Pawan questioned whether the right message is being conveyed. These remarks sparked widespread discussion on social media, with some interpreting them as a critique of Allu Arjun and Sukumar’s Pushpa franchise.

Returning to one of the year’s highly anticipated films, Pushpa 2: The Rule is scheduled for release on December 6. At the same event, Ravi Shankar addressed inquiries regarding the upcoming Allu Arjun starrer. There were speculations circulating about potential discord between Allu Arjun and director Sukumar during the making of the Sukumar-directed film. Rumors also suggested that the release might be delayed due to these issues.

However, Ravi Shankar dismissed these rumors and reassured fans about the film’s status, emphasizing that Pushpa 2 has turned out exceptionally well. He clarified that the remaining production work will be completed by September. “Pushpa 2 has turned out extraordinarily well. We are on track to finish the remaining work by September. By November, we will initiate theater bookings and confirm the release on December 6,” Ravi Shankar stated. The sequel, which features Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil reprising their roles, is eagerly anticipated by fans.