When 'NTR' biopic was first launched last year, Teja was to wield the megaphone uninterrupted. After a schedule, the 'Nuvvu Nenu' and 'Nene Raju Nene Mantri' director had a realization. He knew that he was too small for the special film about an extraordinary personality. 'I want to quit', Teja told Balakrishna in no time.

This is when the actor mooted a question. 'Should I direct this movie now?' Balayya asked himself. Luckily for him, this is also when his 'Gautamiputra Satakarni' director, Krish Jagarlamudi, expressed his intention to direct the project. Krish came to know that the prestigious project had just been orphaned by Teja.

As someone who is very comfortable with Krish, Balayya couldn't have asked for more. He immediately let him in. Krish abandoned 'Manikarnika' (Jhansi Laxmibai's biopic) and took up 'NTR'. He made it as a two part-biopic in less than 80 days. Since the entire script and much of the dialogue version (by Sai Madhav Burra) was already ready, Krish found it easy to make improvisations early on.

'Kathanayakudu' will release on January 9. The second edition of the biopic is slated for a release on February 7.