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The long-standing speculation around the ambitious mythological project Hiranyakashyap, starring Rana Daggubati, has finally been addressed by director Gunasekhar, bringing clarity to several ongoing rumours in the industry.

For years, there were reports suggesting that star filmmaker Trivikram Srinivas had taken over the directorial responsibilities of the film. However, Gunasekhar has now clarified that these claims are not true and that he personally reached out to Trivikram to verify the same.

According to Gunasekhar, Trivikram responded clearly, stating that he is only associated with the project from a writing perspective and has no intention of directing it. This statement has effectively put an end to the speculation surrounding his involvement as the film’s director.

Gunasekhar also opened up about the earlier journey of Hiranyakashyap, revealing that the project had once attracted interest from major international studios, including Fox Star Studios and Disney. The film was envisioned as a grand mythological spectacle with global appeal, but its massive scale came with a reported budget of nearly ₹300 crore.

He explained that due to the enormous financial requirements and production challenges, he eventually decided to put the project on hold, stating that it was not practical for him to proceed with such a large-scale venture at that time.

Apart from addressing the film’s status, Gunasekhar also spoke about a growing concern in the film industry—the shrinking gap between theatrical releases and OTT premieres. He noted that many audiences are now waiting for digital releases instead of watching films in theatres, knowing they will arrive on streaming platforms within weeks.

He suggested that this trend is impacting theatrical performance and emphasized the need to extend the gap between theatrical and OTT releases. Citing Bollywood as an example, he said the Hindi film industry has already taken steps in this direction by increasing the release window, and a similar approach could help protect the theatrical business in other industries as well.