Harish Shankar Admits Ustaad Bhagat Singh Setback, Announces ETV Win Project

Director Harish Shankar has finally acknowledged the disappointing performance of Ustaad Bhagat Singh, starring Pawan Kalyan, at a recent trailer launch event for Thiruveer's comedy film Papam Prathap. This marks the director's first public acceptance of the film's box office failure since its release on March 19, 2026, despite earlier defending the project as his best work and likening it to his previous hit Gabbar Singh.

After facing criticism from fans for not addressing the film’s poor reception, Harish Shankar used a lighthearted moment at the event to reflect on his experience. He remarked, “When I got onto the stage, the anchor called me Paapam Harish Shankar (Poor Harish Shankar). I thought she said that because Ustaad Bhagat Singh didn’t meet expectations. Then she said the same thing to others. Only then did I realize it was part of the promotion in sync with the title.” This candid admission was well noted by those present and on social media, signaling a turning point in his response to the film's outcome.

Alongside this, Harish Shankar announced a fresh collaboration with OTT platform ETV Win, revealing he will serve as story writer and producer for an upcoming project. He stated, “We are coming up with good content. We have many stories to tell, but we have limitations in telling them due to some reasons. ETV Win is a great platform for such stories. I will follow their protocols and hierarchy for the project, which will be officially announced soon.” This move hints at a shift from theatrical mass entertainers to content-driven films suited for digital audiences.

As Harish Shankar gears up for this new OTT venture, fans are eager to see how he reinvents his storytelling for the digital space and what innovative narratives he will bring to ETV Win in the near future.