“The Divine Supernatural Elements in Jatadhara Will Thrill the Audience – Hero Sudheer Babu
Young hero Sudheer Babu, fondly known as Nava Dalapathi, and Bollywood powerhouse Sonakshi Sinha play the lead roles in the highly anticipated supernatural mythological thriller Jatadhara.
This visually stunning pan-India bilingual is directed by Venkat Kalyan and Abhishek Jaiswal. Presented by Zee Studios and Prerna Arora, the film is produced by Umesh Kumar Bansal, Shivin Narang, Arun Agarwal, Prerna Arora, Shilpa Singhal, and Nikhil Nanda, with Shilpa Shirodkar in a pivotal role. Jatadhara is set for release on November 7 in Hindi and Telugu.
In a candid media interaction, Sudheer Babu opened up about the film’s concept, his role, and his journey.
When you first heard the story of Jatadhara, what was your reaction?
When I first heard it, I was reminded of the folktales we grew up listening to — stories about hidden treasures guarded by spirits. Jatadhara takes inspiration from such folklore and brings it into a contemporary setting in a fascinating way.
There are multiple layers in the story — ghost hunting, family emotions, devotion, mythology, and even references to Arunachala. The conflict in the film ties beautifully with elements from our ancient Puranas. The flashback episode, in particular, excited me a lot. It’s a film where action, emotion, and mythology come together seamlessly.
You spoke quite emotionally at the pre-release event. Why was that?
(Laughs) I’ve never spoken like that before, so I wanted to express it this time. Many in the industry already know my journey, but I wanted others to understand too.
People often say it’s easy for those with film backgrounds and tough for newcomers — but honestly, it’s difficult for everyone in this field. That’s what I meant when I spoke from the heart.
Tell us about your character in Jatadhara.
I play a ghost hunter, but interestingly, he doesn’t believe in spirits — he only believes in science and God. Why he thinks that way and how his perspective changes forms the core of the story.
As soon as you hear the title Jatadhara, you know it’s connected to Lord Shiva. The divine angle unfolds gradually, and the journey toward that revelation is thrilling for the audience.
Mythological and devotional films are trending again. Was that why you chose this project?
Not really. I never choose a film based on trends — because what’s trending today might not be two years later. It’s just a coincidence that this genre is popular now.
The teaser and trailer received an overwhelming response, and the business has been great. With a strong banner like Zee Studios, everything feels positive. It’s a film that will appeal to all audiences — A, B, and C centers alike.
How did this North-to-South collaboration come about?
This is essentially a Telugu film, though the producers are from the North. They initially approached me and Nani with a different script, which I didn’t quite connect with. Later, they asked if I had something in mind. I shared this concept, they loved it, and that’s how Jatadhara began.
What was it like working with Sonakshi Sinha?
Sonakshi is a phenomenal actress. Her look suits South Indian cinema perfectly, and her performance adds tremendous depth to the Dhanapishachi (money spirit) character. She truly brought it to life.
And about Shilpa Shirodkar?
Shilpa ji plays a character named Shobha, which carries a lot of emotional weight. She delivered an outstanding performance. I’m sure she’ll receive many great offers after this film.
How about the music?
Composer Rajeev has done a brilliant job. There’s a Shiva Tandavam sequence that’s going to be a goosebumps moment in theaters — a truly divine experience.
How was it working with Zee Studios?
They are experienced, successful producers who believe deeply in content. They provided everything the film needed — from resources to creative freedom. Working with them was smooth and professional.
The film involves VFX. How crucial is it to the story?
It’s not entirely dependent on VFX, but the sequences featuring Sonakshi have significant visual effects. They’ve been done so realistically that the audience will feel they’re witnessing something real, not digital.
Tell us about the rest of the cast.
We have some fantastic Telugu actors — Avasarala Srinivas, Rajeev Kanakala, Jhansi, Kishore, Pradeep Rawat, and Shilpa Shirodkar. Everyone fit their roles perfectly and brought great authenticity to the film.
You interacted with fans live on Twitter during promotions — how was that experience?
It was so refreshing! Interacting with fans always fills me with energy. I even spoke to a few of them on Instagram calls. I’m not very active on social media, so this was a special way to connect, and I truly enjoyed it.
After doing this film, do you believe in spirits?
(Laughs) The film explores how spirits might interact with us. For research, I watched documentaries and learned about various paranormal detection tools. While I can’t say I completely believe, I do feel there’s something beyond science — maybe just a little bit of faith now!
Do you find some characters challenging to perform?
When I hear a character, my first thought is how do I achieve this? I’ve done around 20 films so far, and with each role, I focus on understanding the character’s psyche and doing the necessary groundwork.
In Jatadhara, there’s a Shiva Tandavam sequence. I’ve never done classical dance before, so I trained for about ten days to get it right. It was a completely new experience.
There are rumors that Mahesh Babu appears in the film. Is that true?
No, not at all. There’s an episode where Lord Shiva appears, and we initially thought of depicting Lord Krishna there, but due to VFX timelines, we couldn’t. So, neither Krishna garu nor Mahesh garu appear in Jatadhara.
What was your reaction after watching the final output?
I was thrilled! The film is gripping from start to finish, with no dull moments. The narration is engaging, and the audience will definitely feel the thrill.
Looking back, how do you see your journey?
When I did my first film SMS, I never imagined I’d go on to do 20 films. This journey has given me immense joy. I’ve given 100% to every role. When I think about the dedication and hard work, I do feel — yes, I deserve much more!
Are you getting offers from Bollywood?
After Baaghi, I did receive a few offers, but my focus has always been on Telugu cinema.
What’s next for you?
I’m doing a film with Rahul Ravindran — a concept never seen before in Indian cinema. It’s on the scale of Baahubali in terms of imagination. And yes, I’ll also be doing the Pullela Gopichand biopic soon.
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