Kiccha Sudeep gets less than 20 minutes screen time in Kabzaa; how is it a multi-starrer, ask fans

Filmmaker R Chandru has often described his upcoming release as a multi-starrer, given that it has Upendra in the lead, with Sudeep and Shivarajkumar also chipping in. However, according to the buzz in industry circles, Sudeep has all of 17-18 minutes screen time in the film as Bhargava Bakshi, while Shivarajkumar’s remains indeterminate. Speaking at the recent song launch of Kabzaa, Chandru had thanked Sudeep for doing the role, even though it was rather small.

According to discussions about the film on social media, several netizens are under the impression that Kabzaa is a multi-starrer with equal prominence to both Upendra and Sudeep. The fact that he’s only doing a pivotal cameo could work against the film’s prospects eventually, they reckon, as fans are excited about seeing Upendra and Sudeep together onscreen. In fact, in the north Indian belt, the film is being promoted as a Sudeep starrer. Fans also say that by doing cameos in others’ films for the sake of friendships, Sudeep has been ruining his hard-earned image in the industry. The actor had said that he agreed to do the role in Kabzaa only owing to his relationship with Upendra and because Chandru literally begged him to.

Sudeep fans have been saying that if he does not have a good enough role, they will not support the film, while the actor’s detractors, of course, are having great fun calling him a side actor. The film will be in theatres in just over a month, so all will be revealed then, provided his role is only a part of the first instalment. If it is like Dhananjaya’s cameo in Thotapuri, which was supposed to get bigger in the second part, well, then that’s another story.

Produced by Chandru, along with Alankar Pandian of Invenio Origin, Kabzaa releases in theatres across the world on March 17. While it has averted a clash with Ganesh’s Baanadariyalli, which has apparently been pushed ahead, the film will have a tough fight for movie screens in the global market, as the second Shazam movie is also releasing on the same day.