Actor Upendra and director Naganna, who have previously delivered notable Kannada films like Kutumba, Gokarna, Dubai Babu, and Gowramma, are set to collaborate once again for a new project titled Bhargava. The project was officially announced with a title teaser on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, accompanied by a tagline that read, 'A Violent Family Man.'
The film will be produced by Surappa Babu under the Ram Babu Productions banner, known for backing Kotigobba, Kotigobba 2 and 3. This marks his first collaboration with Upendra. Surappa Babu has assembled a dedicated team of writers working on an original story for Bhargava and confirms that the film is not inspired by any existing works.
"This is purely for Kannadigas and will not be a pan-India film," says Surappa Babu, who also reveals insights about the film’s title. “'Bhargava as a word carries a mythological reference—Rama’s bow, known as the Bhargava Astra, is a symbol of divine power. However, in this film, the tagline tells a very different story.”
Speaking to CE, director Naganna revealed that the tagline reflects the central conflict of the film. “That contrast—of a violent family man—is exactly what the story is built on,” he says.
Upendra, who will next be seen in Arjun Janya’s directorial debut 45, is set to portray a character in Bhargava that has two distinct shades.
"Upendra’s role is layered,” Naganna explains. “The film will have moments of emotion, humour, and intensity. It’s a character that is grounded yet unpredictable—something new for Upendra,” he adds.
Naganna, whose previous directorial credits include Kurukshetra and Gimmick, describes Bhargava as a film whose story reflects current social and emotional realities.
"It’s rooted in the present. Though the story revolves around a family man, the situations he faces push him beyond his limits," he added.
Music for the film will be composed by Arjun Janya. Cinematography will be handled by Rajaratnam, who previously worked on Kotigobba 2 and is currently part of Kamal Haasan’s Thug Life as an operative cameraman.
The core script has been finalised, and the team is currently in the process of locking the full cast. Veteran actors Avinash and Rangayana Raghu have already joined the project, while the female lead is set to be announced soon.
Upendra, who was last seen in UI, recently wrapped shooting for Rajinikanth's Coolie and is said to have also completed dubbing for the film. He is also engaged with a couple of Telugu projects, and is expected to begin work on Bhargava in the next few months.
On a related note, Naganna also provided a brief update on Kanakadasa, his much-anticipated historical project with Upendra. He noted that while the film is progressing, it involves a larger production scale and will require more time. In the meantime, Bhargava will be the immediate focus for the team.
