Shravan Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 2, 2018)

After a leading turn opposite Tiger Shroff in Sajid Nadiadwala’s Baaghi 2, Disha Patani is now gearing up to play the titular role of warrior-princess Sangamithra in filmmaker Sundar C’s next. The ambitious project was introduced at the Cannes Film Festival last year by its then leading lady, Shruti Haasan, who eventually opted out.

Sangamithra makers had announced in October 2017, that Disha had come on board but this was followed by reports that the film had been put on a backburner. However, Mirror has now learnt that the period-drama, bankrolled by Hema Rukmani, is set to go on the floors in July. Initially scheduled to take off in January, it was pushed ahead in light of Disha’s work commitments.

“The film will be on the lines of SS Rajamouli’s period-drama Baahubali and will release in two parts,” informed a source close to the development.

Mounted on a budget of Rs 400 crore, Sangamithra is set in the 8th century AD and also features Tamil stars Jayam Ravi and Arya in the lead. The makers plan to release the film in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi simultaneously and have asked Disha to give a chunk of her dates for a year.

“Shooting will take place in Hyderabad on sets very similar to Baahubali. It will be filmed on a grand scale and if everything goes according to plan, the first part will be unveiled next year,” added the source.

The first poster was unveiled at the 70th Cannes Film Festival last May. This was followed by regular updates on Shruti’s prep for the period drama which included training in fights, in partucular sword-fighting in London. The actress eventually backed out on account of delays. In a recent interview to Mirror, Disha had revealed that she too will be training in sword fighting as part of her build-up to the action-adventure.


The first Sangamithra poster