After making his debut with the 2014 film Alludu Seenu and enjoying a successful career down south, actor Sreenivas Bellamkonda is excited about his foray in Bollywood, with Chatrapathi which hits the theatres on May 12. “The film offers the audience everything they have been longing for, including a good theatrical experience. I can’t wait for them to watch it,” says the actor in a candid chat with us. Excerpts:

I’m happy we could show a glimpse of all the blood, sweat, tears and most importantly, all the love that we put in to make this film. It’s a great feeling to see the audience react the way they did to what we have to offer. I was confident before, but now I’m really pumped up to see how the audience will react to the film. They’re in for a ride!

I’ve made my mark in Telugu cinema and was ready for something new. When I saw how my films, like Jaya Janaki Nayaka and Kavacham that were dubbed in Hindi had received a huge number of views on YouTube, it excited me. This film is my way of thanking everyone who loved my work because when the perfect script came my way, I just couldn’t say no.

More than a remake I’d call it an adaptation of the story penned by K V Vijayendra Prasad. I play a refugee who comes to Gujarat after losing touch with his mother and stepbrother. The film delves into how local politicians tend to take advantage of displaced immigrants, apart from showcasing how my character revolts for the people, becoming their ‘chatrapathi.’ The bond my character shares with his mother is also very relatable.

Honestly, I’m not. Mujhe sirf pahad chadna, girna, aur phir chadna hi malum hai. I love challenges and that’s exactly what this film offered me. My character is intense, and I loved playing it. The story written in 2005 has been adapted to suit today’s generation, as today’s cinema space is completely different. I believe the audience will see this as a straight-out Hindi film, and not a remake, because that’s how we have treated it.

My first film ever was with director V V Vinayak, he’s my guru. So, I’m glad my ninth film is with him too and I believe it’s my lucky number (laughs!). Nushrratt Bharuccha is a fantastic co-star, she brought such great energy to the set. In fact, the entire cast did, including Bhagyashree and Sharad Kelkar. Ravi Basrur’s background score and Tanishk Bagchi’s OST will be something to watch out for, so will the VFX in some exciting scenes that I can’t reveal now. I feel grateful that I’m working at a time when the lines between north or south cinema have blurred – a good film is all that matters now. And this one will be a visual spectacle for sure.

Ten years before they wowed the world with the period-drama Bahubali, Prabhas and S S Rajamouli had first collaborated for Chatrapathi in 2005. The Telugu film, an ode to Amitabh Bachchan’s Deewaar, had rewritten box-history down South. And Mirror has now learnt that the film is all set to get a Hindi remake with Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas aka Sreenu stepping into Prabhas’s shoes. The film is being bankrolled by Dr Jayantilal Gada of Pen Studios.

A huge name in Tollywood, Bellamkonda had made his debut in 2014 with the superhit action entertainer Alludu Seenu, directed by V V Vinayak, who will also be making his Hindi film debut as the director of the remake. Excited about stepping into a new industry with a role earlier played by a superstar, Bellamkonda says, “This is the perfect project for my big debut in Bollywood. It’s a great opportunity to collaborate with Dr Gada and Pen Studios, and to be reunited with my first ever director V V Vinayak sir. Although, taking on a role that Prabhas did is a huge responsibility, but I am glad I did, as it’s the perfect script.”

Dr Jayantilal Gada, MD & Chairman of Pen Studios, is synonymous with successful commercial ventures that are high on content. When Mirror reached out to him, he confirmed the news, revealing that he’s a die-hard Bachchan fan, and though he has the remake rights of Andha Kanoon and Aakhree Raasta, it is his dream to remake Deewaar whose rights are with Rajiv Rai. “Despite all my attempts, he doesn’t want to sell. Chatrapathi is on the lines of Deewaar and I have had the rights with me for 15 years now, much before Baahubali,” he exults.

Explaining his decision to sign on Bellamkonda, Dr Gada points out, “Chatrapathi is a great script. We needed a South star to carry it to Bollywood, and we saw Bellamkonda as the perfect fit. We are very excited about this project, and everything is falling into place at great speed. We have updated the script to match Bollywood sensibilities.” The film rolls in January with a start-to-finish three-month schedule in Mumbai, with a song or two to be shot in Bangalore.

Ace director V V Vinayak, who has delivered blockbusters with all the top stars in Tollywood, is known for his ability to handle remakes well. His directorial Khaidi No 150, which marked the return of megastar Chiranjeevi, was quite the rage. In fact, he has been lauded by master filmmaker Rajamouli himself for elevation of heroism in his films.

After delivering a superhit debut in Tollywood, Bellamkonda will be looking at repeating the success in Bollywood with his director by his side and a Rajamouli film, that chronicles the conflict between two brothers, who choose different paths and are on opposite sides of the law.

(L-R) Dr Jayantilal Gada, Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas, and V V Vinayak