Save the date, says Upendra, as actor-director prepares to make announcement of his next directorial

In Kannada cinema circles, it’s a widely acknowledged fact that if you were to rank Real Star Upendra as a writer, director and actor, he’d fare better as the first two, with acting coming a close third. And if he is also acting in his own directorial, that makes for a killer combination. So, it is no wonder that Sandalwood and fans of the actor-filmmaker eagerly await news on an Upendra directorial.

After a string of back-to-back directorials like Tharle Nan Maga, Shhh!, Om, Operation Antha, Omkaram, Swastik, A and Upendra, he stayed away from filmmaking for 11 years (concentrating on acting instead and serving as writer on a handful), only to return with Super, which was a runaway hit. Then again, there was a five-year break from directing until he made Uppi 2. It’s taken him another seven now to get cracking on his latest directorial, which, incidentally, will also be a home production.

In early February, Upendra had hinted about a directorial with a casting call, seeking actors, both male and female, in the age group of 14 to 60, with the final date of submission for sample videos being tomorrow. In fact, in the past couple of days, there has been a strong buzz that Upendra would make a formal announcement about his directorial on March 10, but it seems we’ll have to wait another day. Earlier today, the actor-filmmaker posted a save the date message, for March 11, 12.46 pm to be precise, which, according to the rumour mill, will be an announcement about his directorial.

On the work front, meanwhile, Upendra is winding up work on Kabzaa and Lagaam, while Home Minister is due for release on April 1. He’s also got Thrishulam and Buddhivanta 2 lined up as acting commitments.