Kannappa director Mukesh Kumar Singh says Bollywood never noticed him, 'but Telugu cinema did' - EXCLUSIVE

“I was constantly doing good work, but Bollywood never looked my way. I thought, ‘Maybe someday someone will notice.’ But that call came unexpectedly, from the Telugu film industry,” he says with a smile.

The call changed everything. Veteran actor-producer Mohan Babu had seen Mukesh Kumar Singh’s work and was so impressed that he urged his son and producer of Kannappa, Vishnu Manchu, to bring him on board as director for Kannappa, a passion project Vishnu had long envisioned.

Also Read: Exclusive - Vishnu Manchu: The budget of Kannappa is so high, I need the star power of Prabhas, Mohanlal and Akshay Kumar to....

“It takes someone like Mohan Babu sir to spot talent where no one else is looking,” he says, adding, “I’ll always be grateful for his faith.”

Despite the film’s scale and ensemble cast including Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, and Mohanlal, Mukesh Kumar Singh said the biggest takeaway has been personal growth.

“You learn humility when you work with people who are both legends and truly grounded human beings,” he says. “That’s what I saw in Prabhas and Akshay, sir.”

In this candid conversation with Moneycontrol, Moukesh Kumar Singh also spoke about the pan-India revolution, creative clashes with Vishnu Manchu but in a positive way, and why he believes OTT isn’t a threat but a part of cinema’s evolution.

Also Read: Kannappa movie review: Vishnu Manchu starrer impresses in bits and pieces; Prabhas stands out

Excerpts from the exclusive conversation with Mukesh Kumar Singh  Ques: How are you feeling a day before Kannappa’s release? Nervous or confident?

Mukesh Singh: Honestly, I’m tired. But yes, somewhere deep down, I’m confident. We’ve been working non-stop for days. The whole crew—VFX, DI, sound, ADs—no one has slept. We had to complete the film in five languages, and that’s a massive task. But I’m satisfied with what we’ve done.

Vishnu Manchu in Kannappa

Ques: You’ve said Bollywood didn’t show confidence in you—how did that impact you? Mukesh: I’ve been directing large-scale television shows with budgets larger than 80% of films. Yet, the film industry never gave me a chance. I was always hoping Bollywood would call—they didn’t. But then, out of nowhere, I got a call from Telugu cinema. They’d seen Mahabharata, and Mohan Babu sir himself appreciated my work. That’s how I got Kannappa. I’ll forever be grateful to him and Vishnu Manchu.

Also Read: Exclusive: Vishnu Manchu says will give a pay cheque to Mohanlal and Prabhas who didn’t charge a rupee for Kannappa: "They deserve it"

Ques: Working with Vishnu Manchu—as both actor and producer—did it ever get creatively tense? Mukesh: In creative fields, differences are natural. I don’t even like the phrase “on the same page,” because if everyone’s on the same page, someone is compromising. But Vishnu was always collaborative. He wrote the story too, so he had a vision. We discussed every scene, character, and location. It was respectful, not interfering. His experience and connections helped the film a lot.

Ques: You’re now part of the pan-India film movement. What’s your take on it? Mukesh: It’s the best thing happening to Indian cinema. It breaks the language barrier and brings people together. In New Zealand, we had people speaking Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, Thai, and English—it was like an international crew. Stories don’t need language; they need emotion. Pan-India cinema is helping unify audiences.

Ques: How are you coping with the immense pressure around Kannappa's expectations? Mukesh: I don’t take pressure from outside. I judge myself. One of my assistants told me, “Even your average is a masterpiece for others.” That stayed with me. I have to keep growing as a creator; that’s all that matters to me.

Kannappa

Ques: How is Kannappa different from other recent big-budget films? Mukesh: It’s not a sequel or prequel. It’s a standalone story with a beginning, middle, and end. Kannappa is a legendary tale of a man who plucks his eyes and offers them to God without asking for anything. In a world where we go to temples to ask for something in return from God, this story is about a devotee who only gave. It’s emotional, spiritual, and rooted in India’s heritage. That way it is very different. And it has a proper ending.

Ques: In the age of OTT, are theatrical releases still worth it? Mukesh: Absolutely. Change is the only constant, and we should accept it. OTT is about convenience. People watch on phones while traveling. But big-screen experiences still matter. If you create something powerful, people will come to theaters. It’s not one versus the other—both can coexist.

Ques: Has working with stars like Prabhas and Akshay Kumar changed your view of stardom? Mukesh: Yes, in the best way. Prabhas is called the Rebel Star, but to me, he’s the Humble Star. He sits on set, watches every shot preparation, and never hides in vanity vans or make up rooms. He becomes the character. Akshay Kumar sir is so easy to work with. He was a bit unclear but then he called me again and we spoke at 10 p.m. the night before the shoot, and the next day he came fully prepared. He makes everyone feel comfortable; he talks to you like a friend. That warmth matters.

Ques: Finally, what do you want audiences to feel when they watch Kannappa? Mukesh: I want them to feel. It’s not just a story; it’s a powerful, emotional, spiritual journey. If it moves people, if they leave with goosebumps and questions about devotion, sacrifice, and faith. I’ll consider that a win.

The early reviews of Kannappa are out and the movie is being appreciated for its grandeur. The Moneycontrol reviewer also praised Prabhas for his performance. Akshay Kumar makes his Telugu film debut.

Kannappa is directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh and it has Manchu Vishnu, Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, Mohanlal, Kajal Aggarwal and others in pivotal roles.