Telugu superstar Nani whose earlier hits include SS Rajamouli Eega, Yeto Vellipoyindhi Manasu, Gentlemen, Majnu, Devdasa, Gang Leader and Jersey (now being made in Hindi with Shahid Kapoor) is now producing and starring in Shyam Singha Roy. Said to be the most expensive Telugu film since Rajamouli’s Baahubali Shyam Singha Roy apparently has Nani as a Bengali freedom fighter, and is being made on a scale to rival Baahubali.
However the Covid pandemic has played havoc with the film’s shooting.
Directed by Rahul Sankriyan, who earlier directed Vijay Deverekonda in the supernatural comedy Taxiwaala, Shyam Singha Roy was to go on the floors in April 2020. But after Covid struck civilization, shooting was postponed until the lockdown was lifted. The original producer Naga Vamsi backed out of the project as financially unfeasible after the pandemic. Nani decided to produce the film.
The shooting which involved artistes from Kolkata was halted this month.
A source informs, “Nani and his director were allowed to go on shooting even after all shootings were halted in Andhra because it involved artistes from Bengal and the shooting was being done on an expensive set involving dozens of junior artistes. But now some artistes have been detected as Covid Positive and the shooting has come to a grinding halt. Which means the entire schedule would have to be revived, the expensive set built again, just for a few days’ shooting whenever possible.”
The Covid crisis claims one more victim.
Image source: Instagram/nameisnani