Telugu actor Sudheer Babu, who is known for making at least two movies a year, has spent entire 2025 in the making of his highly anticipated mythical horror movie Jatadhara.
The movie is all set to hit the screens on November 7 and is a big step forward for the actor, who says he wanted it to be "perfect."
Sudheer Babu says, "Jatadhara a mythological horror based on the stories we heard as kids."
Sudheer told Hindustan Times, "When I read a script, I don't just think about it as an actor who wants to get ahead in his career. I think about it as an audience member." We all grew up hearing moral stories and folklore. Jatadhara had a story like that that got me right away."
A scary story with a mythological twist Sudheer adds, "Imagine there is buried gold that a demoness (pisachini) protects, and there is a ghost hunter (played by me) who doesn't even believe in ghosts." These two universes come together because of certain events. It's a movie with a lot of layers that goes deeper than it first seems. I'm sure people will find it refreshing.
The story is also based on true memories. Sudheer remembered that during the riots that followed the assassination of politician Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga, people would bury their belongings in their backyards out of fear. I remember two stories very well. One was the "Oh Stree, repu ra" story, which gave Stree life, and the other was about the valuables that people hid during the riots. I'm delighted that Jatadhara looks at a different version of those stories from my youth.
Tough Shoot and Spiritual Test
Sudheer also said that filming Jatadhara was hard on both his body and his mind. "We filmed for 15 to 16 hours a day for a week for the climax." He said, "One day we even went on for 24 hours without knowing it." "It was hard work, but it was worth it. This movie needed that level of intensity."
The actor also had to do something unexpected: dance a formal Shiva tandavam routine to the tune Shiva Stotram. He laughed and said, "That scared me more than anything else. I've never danced classical on screen before, but I gave it my all. I think people will be able to see the work and emotion when they see it. “
On working with Shilpa Shirodkar and Sonakshi Sinha
Shilpa Shirodkar and Sonakshi Sinha play important parts in Jatadhara. Shilpa is Namrata Shirodkar's sister (married to Mahesh Babu), while Sudheer is married to Mahesh's sister Priyadarshini. This makes their partnership a special familial link. Sudheer said, "Honestly, I wasn't sure how she'd pull off her role at first," when asked about Shilpa's performance. “But she really astonished me. One of my favorite parts in the movie is about her character. People have never seen her act like this before.”
He only had good things to say about Sonakshi: "She's a great actress--no tantrums, very focused, and incredibly expressive. Her eyes perform half the acting for her, and she makes every scenario feel real.”
Also read: Sonakshi Sinha and Sudheer Babu starrer Jatadhara advance booking begins ahead of theatrical release
Sudheer Babu's Next Steps
Sudheer states that after Jatadhara, he wants to make movies that inspire people and are based on sports. "My next project is with Rahul Ravindran and is one of the biggest movies in terms of ideas." He teased, "It's something very exciting." Sudheer Babu is set to mix mythology, horror, and passion into a story based on Indian culture and his own past with Jatadhara. He promises a movie experience that is both exciting and profoundly entrenched.
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