With Shaakuntalam set to hit the theatres on April 14, actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu took to her Twitter handle to interact with her fans. When one of the Twitter users asked her if there is something common between Shakuntala and Samantha, the actor wrote, "I think Shakuntala is a very inspirational character. She showed grace and dignity in the face of great struggle. I aspire to be that way Shaakuntalam."
Speaking about the most challenging scene in Shaakuntalam, she said, "While Gunasekhar sir will transport you to a magical world. I believe that by the second half, it’s the beautiful emotions that really make this more than just a visual treat. I am particularly proud of a scene in the second half of Shaakuntalam." (sic)
Written and directed by Gunasekhar, Shaakuntalam is a cinematic adaptation of Kalidasa's play Abhignyana Shakuntalam. The film stars Samantha in the titular role of Shakuntala, with Malayalam actor Dev Mohan playing the role of Prince Dushyanta. The film also features Mohan Babu, Ananya Nagalla, Gautami and Aditi Balan in supporting roles.
Shaakuntalam is produced by Gunasekhar’s daughter, Neelima Guna and distributed by Dil Raju. Veteran music director Mani Sharma has composed the music for the film, with Sekhar V Joseph and Prawin Pudi handling cinematography and editing, respectively. Shaakuntalam will release in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi.