Latest news with #HemanthRao
India Today
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Actor Shiva Rajkumar channels vintage spy look in 666 Operation Dream Theatre
After a brief medical hiatus, Kannada superstar Dr Shiva Rajkumar returns to the spotlight with the much-anticipated '666 Operation Dream Theatre', where his striking first look has already stirred excitement among actor unveiled the first look on X, captioning it, 'Presenting My Look from #666OperationDreamTheatre.' The reveal has ignited excitement among fans, especially for what appears to be a stylish spy thriller with nostalgic the post: Sporting a retro three-piece checked suit, complete with a sharp tie and vintage revolver, Shiva Rajkumar oozes old-school charm with a touch of menace. The look evokes memories of classic spy icons, with fans drawing comparisons to the legendary 'CID 999' series once headlined by his father, Dr film also stars Dhananjaya. The makers recently released a title teaser and countdown posters, featuring Morse code, ticking bombs, and spy gadgets. All signs point to Shiva Rajkumar playing a secret agent in what's shaping up to be a genre-bending by Hemanth Rao and produced by Dr Vaishak J Gowda under Vaishak J Films, 666 Operation Dream Theatre is expected to begin filming in July. With Charan Raj handling the music and Advaitha Gurumurthy as the cinematographer, the excitement is already building on the visuals and music of the the title teaser: This marks a new collaboration between Shiva Rajkumar and Hemanth Rao, who had earlier announced 'Bhairavana Kone Pata', now postponed due to the actor's health. Meanwhile, Shivanna will next be seen in Arjun Janya's action drama '45', alongside Upendra and Raj B Shetty.- Ends
India Today
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Agnyathavasi producer hits back at troll criticising Kannada film's poor promotions
Kannada Hemanth Rao, known for emotionally resonant films like 'Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu' and 'Sapta Saagaradaache Ello', is no stranger to crafting cinema that lingers. But with his latest production 'Agnyathavasi', which hit theatres on April 11, 2025, Rao found himself navigating a different kind of discourse, one that played out not on the big screen, but on social media. Recently, a troll criticised the film's poor promotions stating that it was the cause of film's underperformance at the box the days following the film's release, a post on X claimed that 'Agnyathavasi' failed not due to content, but due to a lack of promotional effort. 'No Promotion, No Audience!! It's That Simple (sic),' the post read, praising other recent Kannada releases like 'Yuddhakaanda' and 'Veera Chandrahasa' for doing promotions 'right', while accusing 'Agnyathavasi's' team of expecting magic without making the post: Hemanth Rao replying to the post, wrote, 'Silence is often misunderstood to be confirmation of your opinion... Easy answers are not always the right answers. Each film has its own unique identity and journey. As the saying goes, comparison is the thief of joy.'advertisementHe acknowledged that the team could 'do better' with promotions, but pushed back against reductive takes. 'We will reflect, learn, and go again,' he added, while also thanking those who supported the before 'Agnyathavasi's' release, Rao spoke about these very challenges in an interview with Hindustan Times, offering a glimpse into the hopes the film carried. 'I definitely hope so,' he said when asked whether 'Agnyathavasi' could replicate the pan-Indian success of Malayalam thrillers. 'It would be good if it crosses borders and resonates with audiences,' he also acknowledged the tough year for Kannada cinema: over 70 films were released in 2025 alone, with many struggling to find viewers. But rather than seeing this as a setback, Rao viewed it as an opportunity. 'I don't want to complain. I'd rather break this landscape with different kinds of cinema. Most of the audience comes to theatres for tentpole films, but good storytelling can also bring Kannada audiences back,' he said. 'Agnyathavasi', a 1997-set mystery thriller directed by Gultoo filmmaker Janardhan Chikkanna, features a cast that includes Rangayana Raghu, Siddu Moolimani, Pavana Gowda, and Ravishankar Gowda. The film was announced in early 2023 but faced several delays before arriving in theatres in the debate on promotions has sparked discussion, it has also highlighted a crucial question for the Kannada industry: how do strong stories find their way to bigger audiences? For Rao, the answer is nuanced - not in formulaic strategies, but in building a culture of sustained, long-term connection between cinema and Watch
