Writer-director Harish Shankar worked on a script that was set in a college. At the centre was an estranged couple. The script was meant to be pitched to Pawan Kalyan.
"The couple reunited in the climax of Kushi (2001). They had a fallout again, separated, and later ended up as lecturers in the same college. I spent a year working on a script based on the concept of the ego clashes between them in that setting. However, I realized fans wouldn't be satisfied without commercial elements, so I set that script aside and made Ustaad Bhagat Singh instead," Harish Shankar said.
Pawan Kalyan playing a lecturer with wife issues in his 50s wouldn't have been acceptable to the general audience, unless the film featured mesmerizing music and a charming screen presence. Kushi had so many things falling into the right place: Mani Sharma's timeless music, PSPK's extraordinary styling, realistic fights, and Bhumika Chawla's performance.
What would it have taken to make a spiritual sequel to Kushi? The makers were required to secure IP rights from Kushi producer AM Ratnam.
