2024 has been a tough year for Indian cinema, with several high-profile films in Tollywood and Bollywood failing to make an impact at the box office. Remakes, in particular, have struggled, with many being labeled as massive disasters. One of the most notable flops was Baby John, the Bollywood remake of the Tamil film Theri, which starred Varun Dhawan in the lead. Despite high expectations, the film was met with rejection from audiences.
Now, the film is being remade in Telugu as Ustaad Bhagat Singh, with Pawan Kalyan stepping into the lead role. Directed by Harish Shankar, who is known for his successful remakes, the film has generated both excitement and skepticism. Harish’s last directorial venture, Mr. Bachchan—a remake of Raid—failed to perform at the box office, leading to criticism and trolling. This has added pressure on Ustaad Bhagat Singh, making it a significant test for Shankar’s directorial abilities.
To improve the script, Harish Shankar is said to have made crucial changes, which he plans to present to Pawan Kalyan soon. The main challenge, however, is whether audiences will embrace a remake at this time, especially considering that Theri—the original film—was dubbed as Policodu and is available on multiple digital platforms. Additionally, the Hindi remake was poorly received.
Despite the odds, Pawan Kalyan has committed to allocating bulk dates for the film in 2025, which makes Ustaad Bhagat Singh a crucial project for both the actor and director. Will it overcome the remake fatigue and perform well? Only time will tell.
