Ranveer Singh’s Exit from Prasanth Varma’s “Rakshas” Stirs North-South Film Industry Divide

Ranveer Singh’s unexpected departure from Prashant Varma’s ambitious Hindi-Telugu bilingual film “Rakshas” has sent ripples through the Indian film industry, reigniting discussions about the North-South divide. The news of this sudden change has left fans and industry insiders speculating about the underlying reasons.

Just a week ago, “Rakshas” began shooting with much anticipation, starring Bollywood heavyweight Ranveer Singh under the direction of Prashant Varma. However, after only three days of filming, the project came to an abrupt halt. While initial reports suggested an amicable split, a detailed account by Subhash K Jha for Times Now has revealed a more intricate story.

Behind the Exit

According to Jha, Ranveer Singh’s withdrawal has shocked the Telugu film industry. An anonymous source close to the project revealed that Ranveer exited on the advice of someone he trusts. Despite his enthusiastic start and completion of three days of shooting, Ranveer sent a message indicating he could no longer continue, without any further explanation.

The source stated, “There is much speculation in the mainstream media in Mumbai over Ranveer Singh’s association with our film ‘Rakshas.’ To set the record straight, yes, Ranveer agreed to star in ‘Rakshas’ and flew down to Hyderabad to shoot with us. It was Ranveer who pursued director Prashant Varma. Prashant had planned another project in Telugu after ‘Hanu-Man.’ Seeing Ranveer’s enthusiasm, Prashant postponed his Telugu film to work on the Hindi-Telugu film with Ranveer.”

Adding to the mystery, the source mentioned that Ranveer had actively participated in the shoot and seemed pleased with the progress. His sudden exit left the team in shock, and the situation was further complicated by a leak to the Mumbai media, which the source felt was handled unprofessionally.

Unanswered Questions and Future Plans

The insider commented, “We are told he was advised not to do the film by someone close to him. If this is so, shouldn’t he have taken the advice earlier and spared us the losses and embarrassment? Ranveer knew he was entering a Udupi restaurant. He knew he would be served Idli-Sambhar, not Chole Bhature.”

Despite the setback, the production team plans to use the footage already shot, potentially incorporating Ranveer’s scenes with the help of Artificial Intelligence if he doesn’t return. The team remains open to discussions, hoping that better sense prevails and Ranveer reconsiders his decision.

Implications for North-South Industry Relations

While the identity of this mentor remains a secret, the situation has fueled speculation about a North vs. South divide in the film industry. Ranveer Singh, one of Bollywood’s most beloved stars, appears to have been advised to remain exclusive to Bollywood. This is not the first instance of an actor choosing to stay loyal to their native industry, but many have successfully crossed over to work in different regional cinemas. Icons like Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Shah Rukh Khan, Rajnikanth, Kiccha Sudeep and Salman Khan have all played roles in South Indian films.

Also read: Dharma Productions Secures Hindi Distribution Rights for NTR’s ‘Devara’

At The Cults Bay, we hope that the makers of “Rakshas” and Ranveer Singh can find an amicable solution, strengthening the relationship between North and South Indian cinema. This situation serves as a reminder of the potential for collaboration and the importance of unity in the diverse landscape of Indian cinema.