Director Harish Shankar has officially put to rest one of the most persistent rumours surrounding his upcoming film, confirming that Ustaad Bhagat Singh is not a remake of the 2016 Tamil blockbuster Theri. With the Pawan Kalyan starrer set to hit theatres on March 26, 2026, just four weeks away, the clarification comes at a point when the film’s promotional campaign is building toward full throttle, with a pre-release event locked in for March 19. Produced by Mythri Movie Makers, the film carries original story, screenplay, and dialogue credits entirely from Harish Shankar.
Why Is Ustaad Bhagat Singh Being Compared to Theri?
The Theri remake speculation has followed Ustaad Bhagat Singh since the project was first announced. Theri, directed by Atlee and released in 2016, starred Vijay as a cop who goes undercover to protect his daughter after his family is targeted by a criminal network. Given the thematic overlap with the premise of Ustaad Bhagat Singh, which also centres on a police officer and his daughter, industry observers and fans consistently pointed to similarities between the two films.
Director Harish Shankar addressed the controversy head-on, stating that the credits on his film tell the full story. “Kadha, Maatalu, Darshakatvam” — the Telugu credit for Story, Screenplay, and Direction — is listed entirely under his name, something that would not be the case had the film been an official or unofficial adaptation. He went further, pointing out that Theri‘s iconic introduction sequence was itself loosely inspired by the Antakshari scene in his own earlier film Gabbar Singh — a detail that reframes the perceived borrowing in the opposite direction. Harish Shankar said the persistent remake allegations hurt him, but he chose not to explain himself until now, preferring to let the film speak on release.
Director @Harish2you has officially confirmed that #UstaadBhagatSingh is not a remake of #Theri and with just 4 weeks to go, the RAMPAGE is all set to begin 🔥🔥pic.twitter.com/8nSXaiGGvM
— let’s x Cinematica (@letsxCinematica) March 2, 2026
What Is Ustaad Bhagat Singh About?
Ustaad Bhagat Singh is an action comedy drama that follows a senior IPS officer who fakes his death along with his daughter after their family is targeted by dangerous enemies from his past. The premise is built around the double life the protagonist leads — the threat from former foes on one side, and the bonds of family that he is protecting at all costs on the other. Harish Shankar has also clarified that despite Pawan Kalyan‘s current profile as the serving Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, the film carries no political satire or messaging. It is a pure commercial entertainer designed for wide audience appeal.
The soundtrack is composed by Devi Sri Prasad, reuniting the composer with Harish Shankar after their successful collaboration on earlier projects. Mythri Movie Makers is backing the film as producer, one of Tollywood’s most prolific production houses, ensuring the project carries significant scale and marketing muscle heading into its release.
Who Stars in Ustaad Bhagat Singh?
Pawan Kalyan leads the film in the titular role, playing the IPS officer at the centre of the story. It marks his return to a full-fledged commercial entertainer after a period heavily dominated by his political responsibilities as Deputy CM of Andhra Pradesh. Opposite him, Sreeleela and Raashii Khanna are part of the female cast, while Ashutosh Rana and Nawab Shah round out key supporting roles. The combination of Pawan Kalyan’s mass appeal, Harish Shankar’s track record with high-energy entertainers, and Devi Sri Prasad’s music gives the film a lineup that Tollywood trade watchers are treating as a major commercial proposition for the March 2026 box office.
When Is Ustaad Bhagat Singh Releasing and Where Can You Watch It?
Ustaad Bhagat Singh releases in theatres on March 26, 2026, a date that places it in direct competition with other major releases in the same window, including Toxic (starring Yash) and Dhurandhar 2. The pre-release event is scheduled for March 19, 2026, a week before the theatrical premiere. The film’s OTT partner is Netflix, though a digital premiere date has not been announced yet and will depend on the film’s theatrical run. Once it arrives on Netflix, it will be available across its global subscriber base in multiple language versions.