Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas: ‘Kishkindhapuri’ Will Thrill Audiences

Actor Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas is coming up with a mysterious occult thriller Kishkindhapuri, directed by Kaushik Pegallapati. Actress Anupama Parameswaran is playing the female lead. Produced by Sahu Garapati under Shine Screens banner, the film is set for a grand release on September 12th. With the promotional content already creating curiosity, expectations are high. On this occasion, Bellamkonda interacted with the media and shared his experiences about the film.

How was it doing a horror film for the first time?

“I always want to do films that audiences like. Most of my films so far have been mass commercial entertainers. But personally, I love different genres like this. When I met director Kaushik, we discussed exactly this, and he narrated the story of Kishkindhapuri. I loved it instantly. This genre is very close to my heart. We made this film to give audiences a unique experience.

Yesterday, I watched the film in theatres for the first time—it was fantastic, especially the sound design. Radha Krishna, who has worked on Salaar, Animal, and Kantara, did the sound design for this film. It’s mind-blowing. This film has the perfect space for such amazing sound design. Kishkindhapuri is a horror-mystery that blends new elements, presented in a technically superb manner.

Earlier, my thriller Rakshasudu got great applause, especially from women audiences. After a long time, I am doing a straight Telugu film, and I’m very confident about it. Kishkindhapuri will definitely give audiences a different thrill and cinematic experience.”

About producer Sahu Garapati?

“Kaushik had prepared a solid story. Usually, such genres come with budget limitations. But producer Sahu Garapati never compromised—he gave us everything we needed, from technical standards to graphics. He wanted to deliver the best product to the audience. It feels very proud to be part of such a film. It’s the kind of film that makes you realize—‘Oh, it can be made this way too.’”

How is the action in the film?

“The action is very organic, as it’s part of the story itself. The visuals and sound effects will thrill the audience. I have never seen a horror film with such a strong story. This is a perfect blend of horror and mystery. It will give audiences an edge-of-the-seat experience.

Anupama’s performance is very fresh—playing her character was quite tough. Personally, I love horror films. Even in our production house, I enjoyed Kanchana. Since my teenage days, I’ve been fond of horror. I believe teenage audiences will love this film too.

The censor board members themselves said it’s been a long time since they watched such a serious horror film. That feedback gave us a lot of happiness. Horror films have a different charm when watched in packed theatres—this one will be a unique experience.”

About the vintage radio set we heard about?

“Yes, for this film we built a special set—‘Suvarnamaya Radio Station.’ We also shot in a real haunted house. It was an old, dilapidated building, and after shooting we constructed a new one for them.”

What do you look for before accepting a film?

“I look at the content first. These days, I have a strong urge to do something new and prove myself further as an actor. Whenever I take up a new character, the energy on set and location feels completely different. I’ve been experiencing that more often now.”

Upcoming projects?

“Tyson Naidu has completed shooting and is in post-production. Haindava is in the final stages of shooting, though it was delayed due to the strike—it would have been done by now. Both are different films. I also have a new-age thriller coming up with Polimera director Anil.”