Gunasekhar's Shaakuntalam, the mythological drama starring Samantha Akkineni and Dev Mohan, was launched in Hyderabad today.

Speaking at the event, Samantha said portraying the role of a princess on the silver screen was a long-cherished dream for her. "I have portrayed several exciting roles in my decade-long career. But I've been longing to play a princess and have waited for a film like Shaakuntalam to happen. I am really excited to be a part of this film," she said.

Set in Himalayas, Shaakuntalam is based on Kalidasa's epic Sanskrit play, Abhijnana Shakuntalam. "Shaakuntalam depicts one of the greatest love stories of Mahabharata's Adi Parva. I have decided to make this film during the lockdown. The film is also an adaptation of Kalidasa's Abhijnana Shakuntalam and is set in the Himalayas," said Gunasekhar.

Aside from the lead actors and the director, veteran producers Allu Aravind and Dil Raju, and music composer Mani Sharma, participated in the pooja ceremony this morning.

Principal photography of Shaakuntalam will commence in a specially-erected Himalayas set in Hyderabad on March 20. The film, which is being made on a pan-Indian scale, is bankrolled by Dil Raju in association with Gunaa Teamworks.