'Bimbisara', the fantasy action film starring Nandamuri Kalyanram in the lead, has been confirmed for an August 5th release. Debutant director Mallidi Vasishta, who has acted in 'Premalekha Raasa' in the past and is the son of veteran producer Mallidi Satyanarayana Reddy, has spoken with IndiaGlitz about the movie. He also tells us about 'Bimbisara 2' and whether Jr NTR or Balakrishna will be a part of the project.

The fantasy and time-travel elements in 'Bimbisara' are what struck the chord with Kalyanram garu. He is the first actor to listen to this script. I had not narrated it to any other actor before. It was in 2019. The film went on the floors in 2020 and five days after the shoot began, a lockdown was announced. After the lockdown was lifted, ours was the first project to resume the shoot. We had kept the set at Ramoji Film City intact during the lockdown, the director began saying.

The director revealed that Rs 40 Cr is what it took to make the film. After watching the movie, Tarak garu declared that the film will surely be a blockbuster. Dil Raju garu, too, felt the same, he added.

The director is a fan of fantasies and mythological stories. I love fantasies. It's my kind of genre. A lot of stories I have written have a fantasy element in them, the director added. I am into reading Puranas and History. I like to read the Epics Ramayana and Mahabharatha. I like to watch Vittalacharya's movies, which were far ahead of his time, be it in terms of writing or technique. I like to read Chandamama stories. I like to create fictional worlds, the director adds.

Vasishta is a self-confessed fan of Balakrishna. Amid rumours that Balayya or Tarak might join the second edition of 'Bimbisara', we ask him about casting them. The first part ends with a lead to the second part. The second part's script is yet to be locked. I have not thought about casting Jr NTR garu and Balakrishna garu in the second part. If destiny has it in store, it will happen. Only time will tell, the director says, without affirming anything.