Harish Shankar’s Shocking Comments At Gymkhana Event Go Viral

Director Harish Shankar is no stranger to stirring conversations. Known for his outspoken nature and bold takes, he once again grabbed attention this time, at the Telugu trailer launch of Gymkhana, the upcoming dubbed version of Malayalam hit Alappuzha Gymkhana. While the event was meant to spotlight the sports drama and its team, Harish’s off-script comments ended up stealing the limelight.

Gymkhana, starring Naslen (of Premalu fame) and directed by Khalid Rahman, is all set for a Telugu release on April 25. Anil Ravipudi unveiled the trailer, which was met with warm responses. But amidst the celebratory mood, Harish Shankar took the mic and made a remark that instantly sparked reactions. “People rush to watch foreign films and ignore our own Telugu cinema,” he said, suggesting a lack of support for local talent.

The comment, though brief, didn’t go unnoticed. Social media lit up with divided opinions. While some understood his sentiment lamenting the trend of underappreciating regional cinema others weren’t impressed. Critics pointed out that Harish himself had worked on remakes and questioned his stance. “If you make quality films, Telugu audiences will support it, no matter who directs it or what language it's from,” one user wrote. Others reminded him that it was the same Telugu audience that made his past films blockbusters.

Instead of a routine event update, the Gymkhana launch ended up sparking a larger conversation on audience preferences, film quality, and industry introspection. Whether one agrees with Harish Shankar or not, he has once again done what he does best get people talking. And with Gymkhana nearing its release, all eyes are now not just on the film but also on how this buzz may shape its Telugu box office journey.