December 25 will witness multiple film releases, and one among them is Shambhala. Directed by Ugandhar Muni, the film features Aadi Saikumar in the lead role. For the actor, who has been waiting for a solid break, Shambhala is a crucial release, and he is optimistic about its prospects as the film heads to theatres with positive buzz.
Speaking about the story, Aadi says, “I play a geologist in this film. A meteor falls in a village called Shambhala, and the Geological Survey of India sends me there to investigate.” He added that the response to the first look was encouraging. “From there, we released the teaser and other promotional material, and everything has been received well. Prabhas and Nani supported our small film by releasing some promotional videos. I genuinely feel positive about Shambhala,” he says.
Clarifying speculation around the story of Shambhala, Aadi notes, “Many people asked whether Shambhala is inspired by a true incident or mythology. It’s completely fictional. Director Ugandhar has narrated it in such a realistic manner that it feels like a true story.”
Interestingly, the name Shambhala also appears in Prabhas-starrer Kalki 2898 AD. Addressing this, Aadi said, “I asked the director whether we should change the title since the same name was used there. He said it would actually give more mileage to our film, so we stuck with it.” He added that the story is set in the 1980s. “We were very careful about the ambience and costumes. I referred to senior NTR’s old films, especially for the bell-bottom pants,” he reveals.
Aadi’s father Sai Kumar and senior actor Srikanth share a long-standing friendship, and now their sons — Aadi and Roshan — are releasing films on the same date. When asked about the box-office competition, Aadi says, “Roshan is my teammate in the Celebrity Cricket League, and we share a great bond. Christmas and New Year are good windows for releases. Roshan’s Champion is a big-budget film with a wider release. I hope both our films do well.” He adds that he was impressed by the trailer of Champion, mentioning that Sai Kumar and Srikanth speak to each other almost every day.
With several period films being made and released, including Champion, Aadi says, “We could have told the story in the present timeline, but that would involve mobile phones and modern gadgets. We wanted to create a new world and give the audience a fresh experience. A period setting offers rich visuals,” he explains.
The actor says that the Shambhala team experimented with multiple looks before finalising one. “We did three to four looks and conducted workshops for costumes. The final look is what you see in the posters,” he says. Expressing confidence, Aadi adds, “People are talking about this film. After a long time, I feel that this could be a turning point. It’s a good sign.” Talking about the action sequences, he says, “The final action episode is definitely one of the highlights of the film.”
Music plays a key role in the horror genre, and Shambhala features a background score by Sricharan Pakala. “When we were in the US in June for a cricket match along with Thaman, Sricharan was working on the background score. Even after completing portions, he wasn’t satisfied and started fresh. Despite being busy with multiple projects, he gave his complete focus to this film without compromising,” says Aadi, who reveals that there are no songs in the film.
With multiple releases on December 25, the team opted for aggressive promotions. “The promotional budget is slightly higher because of the competition,” Aadi clarifies. Explaining the release date choice, Aadi states, “December 25 was the only viable option. January and the Sankranthi season are crowded with big releases, and February and March are already packed.”
Aadi believes one success can change everything. “New directors bring fresh ideas, which is why I prefer working with them. One hit can completely change my career. Until then, you have to struggle and make careful choices,” he says.
Also praising the producers, who have invested heavily in the project, Aadi says, “They spent almost double my market value.” He also revealed that the Hindi version will release a week after the Telugu version. “PVP has acquired the Hindi rights. Since Ranveer Singh’s Durandhar is doing well during Christmas, we decided to wait and release it next week.”
Reflecting on his 14-year career, Aadi says, “I had a few hits early on, but things didn’t work out for some films that were supposed to be good. There is never complete satisfaction. Surviving in the industry itself is a challenge. One good film can change everything. My family is waiting for this film, and I hope Shambhala gives me the break I’m looking for.”
Further expressing his confidence in Shambhala, the actor notes, "With Shambhala, everything has clicked. Audiences today decide whether a film is meant for OTT or theatres just by watching the trailer. After seeing our promos, people felt this film deserves a theatrical experience.”
Signing off by talking about upcoming projects, Aadi says, "ETV's Sub Inspector Yugandhar is almost complete, with only the dubbing left."