Peddi, starring Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor in the lead roles, is one of the most anticipated releases of the year. The film, produced by Venkata Satish Kilaru under the banner of Vriddhi Cinemas, marks his debut as a producer. Scheduled to hit screens on June 4, the film holds special significance for Satish, who describes the journey as both emotional and fulfilling.
Recalling the project’s inception, Satish shares that his association with Ram Charan goes back several years. “I met Ram Charan garu on the sets of Rangasthalam and expressed my desire to produce a film with him. He promised that he would work with me someday, and he kept his word by giving me Peddi,” he says, adding that Ram Charan epitomises the saying, ‘Promises are meant to be kept’. “It’s my good fortune that he remembered and called me. He honoured his word despite having offers from many big production houses. I will always remain grateful to him.”
Although Satish’s childhood friends were producer Anil Sunkara and Naveen from Mythri Movie Makers, his getting into film production was no mean feat. After dabbling in the construction business, he has made a significant leap into film production, with a big-ticket film like Peddi. He describes the filmmaking process as ‘smooth and rewarding’, and he was able to build a strong bond with the team. “From the first day of shooting to the last, it was a wonderful experience. We worked continuously for 188 days with the same energy and commitment. Thankfully, we didn’t face any major challenges or hurdles. By the end of the shoot, everyone — including the director — was extremely happy. The experience strengthened my relationship with the entire team,” he says. Satish was present on set almost every day. “I had other responsibilities, but I handed them over to my brothers so I could be there. I made it a point to attend shoots daily, observe the work, and ensure the team had everything they needed,” he adds.
One of the most talked-about aspects of Peddi is Ram Charan’s intense physical transformation and the injuries he endured during filming. Satish reveals that the actor pushed himself to the limit. “This role demanded a lot physically. It wasn’t just one injury — he was hurt multiple times, including an injury to his forearm. He is even scheduled to undergo surgery soon,” he says, praising Ram Charan for not letting the injuries get the better of him. “Even after injuries, he would return to the set the very next day because he didn’t want to halt the shoot.” These demanding scenes, including wrestling and cricket sequences, required extensive preparation. Sathish states that the film demanded Ram Charan set a new routine involving therapy and performance. “These aren’t things he does daily. For the past two years, he has worked tirelessly, training with a physiotherapist and a fitness coach. After every shoot, he would undergo therapy and then prepare for the next day. It was incredibly strenuous, but he did it all for perfection,” Satish explains.
Satish is more confident than ever that the film will become a huge hit, as he witnessed practically every scene and is highly satisfied with the output and content. “I’ve watched every scene being shot, so I already know how it has shaped up. I can say one thing — the film will take viewers into a completely new world. From beginning to end, it’s a gripping experience. It’s not just about the climax or interval; the entire film keeps you engaged. You won’t be able to take your eyes off the screen,” he says.
The film, set against the backdrop of the 1980s, required extensive set design. “Most of the shooting took place on specially constructed sets to recreate that era authentically. We also shot in locations like Sri Lanka, Pune, and Delhi for certain sequences,” he shares. According to Satish, the visual scale and detailing will help immerse audiences in the film’s world.
With the onboarding of AR Rahman, it was an alignment of stars for Satish, who too had Rahman as the first choice. “When we narrated the story to him, he was even more excited than we were. He has been supportive from the beginning and is putting in tremendous effort for the film,” Satish says, revealing plans about the film’s Hindi release following the significant buzz it generated all over India. “We are targeting over a thousand screens for the Hindi release, and that number may increase closer to the release date,” he adds.
Looking ahead, Satish is already working on his next project, which brings together Balakrishna and director Gopichand Malineni. However, he insists that he isn’t driven by grand plans. “I don’t overthink. I just want to make good films,” he concludes.