After delivering the blockbuster Gabbar Singh, director Harish Shankar once again teamed up with Power Star Pawan Kalyan for Ustaad Bhagat Singh. This project turned out to be more than just another film for Harish—it became a full-fledged mission driven by passion and determination.

Initially, Harish Shankar considered making a soft love story along the lines of Kushi. However, he soon realized that such a narrative might not suit the powerful mass appeal of his combination with Pawan Kalyan. This led him to rethink the concept and design a completely new, high-energy story that would meet fans’ expectations.

Harish Shankar took charge of almost every aspect of the film’s production. Beyond direction, he was deeply involved in overseeing the shoot, supervising the edit, and refining the final output. His hands-on approach reflected his commitment to delivering a quality film.

The journey, however, was not without challenges. One major hurdle was Pawan Kalyan’s busy political schedule, which made it difficult to complete shooting on time. On top of that, the film’s release date was unexpectedly advanced, adding more pressure on the team. Despite these setbacks, Harish pushed forward relentlessly—reportedly managing with just two to three hours of sleep per day to complete the first copy as quickly as possible.

At the same time, he ensured the film maintained strong buzz. Within a short span, the team released songs, a teaser, and a trailer, all of which received an encouraging response from the audience.

Another key change came in the music department, where Devi Sri Prasad was replaced by S. Thaman. Harish personally supervised the background score to ensure it matched the film’s intense tone and energy.

With Pawan Kalyan occupied, Harish also shouldered most of the promotional responsibilities. For nearly twenty days, he actively participated in interviews, media interactions, and promotional events on his own. His efforts did not go unnoticed—during the pre-release event, Pawan Kalyan openly appreciated Harish Shankar for his dedication and for completing the film under such demanding conditions.