Ace producer A M Ratnam who made blockbusters like ‘Indian’, claims that his next big ticket film ‘Hari Hara Veera Mallu’ with superstar Pawan Kalyan is being designed as a pan-India movie and is bound to create ripples across India. The producer-actor duo delivered two blockbusters ‘Kushi’ and ‘Bangaram’ and are on the verge of a hat-trick. Though the budget has inflated considerably, A.M. Ratnam is confident of recovering the investments since he is making a sensational periodic action-adventure movie. The shooting is likely to begin in August or September depending on the Assembly election schedule in Andhra Pradesh. The producer talks about his future plans with Deccan Chronicle.

Aren’t you worried about shootings getting postponed for ‘Hari Hara Veera Mallu’

Not much, because Pawan Kalyan garu has been in touch with us and giving us a clear road map to complete the film ‘Hari Hara Veera Mallu’. We know each other well since we had delivered two blockbusters ‘Kushi’ and ‘Bangaram’ and hoped to score a hat-trick with ‘Hari Hara Veera Mallu’. We have completed 60% of the magnum opus and will commence shooting in August, if elections in Andhra Pradesh are not preponed. Otherwise, it will be extended to next year.

We heard the budget has crossed Rs 200 crores. Are you confident of recovering the huge investment? How about the differences between Pawan and Krish?

Although I can’t discuss figures but budget has gone over a bit. It has surpassed our earlier plans since interest amounts added up. Nonetheless, it is being designed as a pan-India film since the ‘story is universal’ and it is bound to strike a chord with both South and North Indian audiences. We have B-town actors like Bobby Deol and Norah Fatehi and it will be a massive entertainer. There are no differences between Pawan and director Krish, contrary to the rumours making rounds, because they both have dreamt of making an exciting periodic action adventure and moving towards accomplishing it. We are confident of recovering the investments through OTTs, digital space, and Hindi rights since it is a perfect pan-India adventure.

He has been allotting dates for remakes like ‘Bro’

Firstly, he has never had so many films at the same time in his career and now he is doing it for a purpose. He completed remakes because they demand less number of days and he is doing the action film “OG’ since it will have more action episodes and demands less number of dates in comparison to ‘Veera Mallu’. If elections are held in Andhra Pradesh as per schedule in April, we will complete the film, if not we will resume next year. We as producers also understand his political interests and his mission to do something for the common man.