Sadhu Kokila To Direct Superro Ranga -Kriti replaces Deepa Sannidhi in Kick remake- Exclusive

Upendra starrer 'Superro Ranga' should have been started by now. But the film is being delayed for various reasons. One of the reasons said to be the delay of the launch is the change in the director of the film.

Earlier Ramesh Aravind was supposed to direct this movie. Then it was being said that Upendra's protege Loki will direct the film.

Speaking to Chitraloka director Loki said Last week it was decided this movie will be directed by Sadhu Kokila. Actually original Kick movie director Surendra Reddy was supposed to direct this film. Since he was busy it had gone to Ramesh Aravind. Producer K Manju is doing one movie and it will be straight subject which I will be directing.

Sadhu Kokila has directed two films for Upendra earlier and both the films were remakes. It was Upendra's 'Rakta Kaneeru' in which Sadhu made his debut as a director. Later Sadhu directed Upendra in 'Anatharu'. Now if the news turns out to be true, then Sadhu will direct Upendra for the third time.

First it was supposed to be a Sudeep film, then it became an Upendra-starrer. There were also frequently changing reports about who would be directing it, with names like P Kumaran, Ramesh Aravind and Loki being bandied about. It now seems that the casting for the Kannada remake of the Telugu hit Kick is finally complete. The K Manju film, which stars Real Star Upendra, will have Kriti Kharbanda as its leading lady and, will be directed by Sadhu Kokila.

Kriti was signed up for the film, Super Ranga, early this week, with shooting expected to begin on Monday. When we spoke to the actress, she confirmed that she had indeed confirmed the project, but feigned ignorance when told that she had replaced Deepa Sannidhi in the process. Deepa, meanwhile, was caught unawares of this development and sounded disturbed when BT broke the news to her.

"This is very unprofessional. They did not even tell me about their change in plans. The film was supposed to take off closer to Upendra's birthday in September, and I was even paid my advance. I had also spent a considerable time buying my costumes for the film. They now claim that since Sadhu (Kokila) sir has taken over as director, they will not be able to match his, Upendra's and my dates later on and want to start off as soon as possible and, hence, the change in heroine," says Deepa.

Upendra shoots in Mysore

Sandalwood actor Upendra, shot for his upcoming movie Brahma, which has Pranitha Subhash in the lead, in the premises of Jayalakshmi Vilas Palace in Mysore recently. The movie is directed by R Chandru and produced by Manjunath Babu.

It is said that the actor participated in a jail sequence for a while in the afternoon and then headed back to Bangalore. Some portions of the movie have been shot in Lalith Mahal Palace too. Actor Upendra is essaying a dual role in the movie, which dates back to the 16th Century. The film also has Nassar, Sadhu Kokila, Girish Karnad, Sonu Sood and Rangayana Raghu in significant roles. Gurukiran is the music director of the movie. The bi-lingual movie is made approximately at the cost of Rs 30 crore.

Meanwhile, actor Upendra also has the movie Brahmana, which has Ragini Dwivedi in the lead role. The film which is directed by Srinivasa Raju was earlier titled as Basavanna.

A fifth film with Upendra for Naganna?

Director Naganna, whose last film Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna with Darshan is still running in the theatres, is looking at collaborating with Real Star Upendra again. The duo have worked together on four films earlier.

"I have done films like Kutumba, Gokarna, Gowramma, and Dubai Babu with Upendra, and am looking at doing a fifth with him. I have a script for a thriller ready," says Naganna and adds, "I will meet Upendra upon his return from Bangkok, where he has been shooting for Srinivasa Raju's next. I am developing the script based on a story by another writer." The buzz in the industry, meanwhile, is that Naganna's film is the Kannada remake of the Akshay Kumar-starrer Special 26. "That's an unsubstantiated report. My film with Upendra will be an original and not a remake," reiterates the filmmaker, adding that his plan thereafter is to make another historical.

Uppi agrees to return the award

Actor Upendra was shooting in faraway Thailand when the High Court ruled that the Best Film Award that his movie Super received at the 2011 State Film Awards must be returned. Sources have revealed that ever-gracious Upendra has welcomed the court's ruling and will return the award.

Basant Kumar Patil, president of Karnataka Film Chamber Of Commerce, and actor-director Priya Hassan has contended that the awards were fixed, since Super's cinematographer Ashok Kashyap was on the jury. Uppi has apparently said that any award recipient will not feel good about the award if its validity is questioned. He said that he only wants an award which everyone thinks he deserves.

The Real Star is currently shooting for Brahma. Produced by Manjunath Babu and directed by R Chandru, the movie will see Upendra in two avatars. The story begins in the 16th century and leads up to present day.

Upendra Set To Shoot Actions Scenes For Brahma

The shooting of Upendra's forthcoming movie Brahma is happening in brisk pace. The movie team has returned from Thailand after shooting some songs and key scenes in the movie. Now, the film unit is getting ready to shoot action sequences. The Brahma team is heading to Toy Town Channapatna this week to shoot some of the action scenes in the movie, which was launched in May. Ravi Verma and Thriller Manju will be choreographing the scenes. Uppi will be performing some twist and kick scenes.

Brahma is written and directed by R Chandru, who is basking in the success of his Charminar starring Prem Kumar and Meghana Gaonkar in the lead roles. It is an historical action-drama, which is simultaneously made in Kannada and Telugu. Since Upendra has a decent market in Andhra Pradesh, R Chandru is making Brahma in two languages and he has cast actors from both the industries. Nassar, Shayaji Shinde, Sonu Sood, Girish Karnad, Sadhu Kokila, Rahul Dev, Rangayana Raghu and others are in the cast. For the first time, Pranitha, who has worked with some of the big names, is romancing Upendra onscreen.

I’m ready to relinquish my State Awards: Upendra

Real Star Upendra may be shooting in Thailand, but he's clued in to the proceedings back home with regard to the controversial state awards. "I'm aware that the 2010-2011 State Film Awards will be withdrawn by the government and there's speculation that a new committee may be formed to select films afresh. I accept this decision and have no qualms about relinquishing my award," says Upendra, who took home the Best Director and Best Film award for his Nayanthara-starrer Super.

The decision to withdraw the awards comes in the wake of a legal row, after it was alleged that members directly or indirectly linked to some of the award-winning movies were on the judging panel. Ashok Cashyap, the cinematographer of Super, was also on the jury. "There's a by-law that forbids members who're involved with the participating films from being on the jury. Ashok was told not to watch Super while the other judges saw it," explains the actor. And while he supports a fair process in decision-making, the actor wonders if it's possible to form a committee that is in no way connected to the contending films, given that there will be over 50 on the list.

But, is he upset with film personalities Basanth Kumar Patil or Priya Hassan for raising objections to the awards? "Each is right in their own way and can claim what they feel is due to them. I will gladly give up my award if it makes any of them happy. I got my trophy when Super celebrated 100 days," he says.