Pawan Says Sanatana Dharma Doesn't Need Saving!
The film, which had been in the works for years, wasn’t crafted for political mileage, Pawan clarified.;
Not many actors juggle a deputy CM post and a period action drama shoot in the same day - but Pawan Kalyan isn’t most actors. In a recent interview, he opened up about filming Hari Hara Veera Mallu amid a packed political calendar. According to him, nearly 60% of the film was completed before he stepped into government. For the rest, the team shifted the shoot closer to Vijayawada, scheduling morning sessions before official duties and stealing a few more hours during lunch breaks. As unusual as it sounds, it worked - thanks to smart planning from the production house.
The film, which had been in the works for years, wasn’t crafted for political mileage, Pawan clarified. The decision to do Hari Hara Veera Mallu came long before his full-time political journey. Set around the tale of the Kohinoor diamond-originally from Kolluru near Vijayawada-the story follows a commoner’s daring attempt to reclaim the gem from Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. More than a fictional epic, Pawan hints at real, often-ignored layers of Indian history buried beneath grand Mughal narratives.
He’s clear about what the film isn’t - it’s not about pushing any religious agenda. “Sanatana Dharma doesn’t need protecting,” he says. Instead, Veera Mallu aims to entertain while nudging viewers to revisit lesser-told chapters of India’s past - like the imposition of the Jizya tax on Hindus or the fading recognition of Vijayanagara rule in school textbooks. At its heart, the film is a blend of spectacle and provocation - a mix that could strike a chord, especially if the discussion around the Kohinoor gains steam.
While the screen may be lit with sword fights and historical flashbacks, Pawan’s gaze remains firmly on the future of Andhra Pradesh. From advocating for land pooling in Amaravati to pushing for self-reliant village panchayats, he talks about development with a grounded vision. “Let the villages build the state,” he says. And just like his dual roles - cinematic and political - he hopes both can shape stories worth remembering.