Vishnu Manchu, who is set to play the lead role in the Telugu historical drama Kannappa, based on the life of a devoted follower of Lord Shiva, launched the teaser for the film in Mumbai on Monday . The event saw the presence of Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar, and during the occasion, Vishnu shared some heartfelt thoughts about the journey of the film and his experience working with Akshay Kumar.
Vishnu recalled the idea for the movie being conceived back in 2015. He said, "In 2015, someone gave me the idea, and since then, I’ve been working to bring this movie to life. At that time, my market wasn’t big enough for a film of this scale. In 2022, we were looking at making another movie, but even then, the market and the scale of the film weren’t at the level they needed to be."
Talking about any doubts that crossed his mind while filming, " It’s all Lord Shiva's blessings. I never had any doubts... faith can move mountains. Everything fell into place. All the people I wanted to act in the movie, every one of them, they all came together."
Vishnu expressed how the past two years of working on the film have changed him personally as well. "When you watch the movie, you’ll see how this journey over the last two years has transformed me as a human being."
Vishnu also spoke about his gratitude for Akshay Kumar’s presence at the event. "Akshay Kumar and I don’t have a personal relationship, but I’m so grateful to have met him now. He’s a wonderful human being, and I have so much to learn from him. When he walked onto the set, I learned a lot. There’s a lot to learn from him. He inspires people just by being who he is. He’s one of the biggest superstars in the country, and I believe his success is due to his discipline and love for his craft."
Vishnu went on to say, "For me, when I thought of Lord Shiva, I thought of Akshay Kumar. For this generation, anyone who thinks of Lord Shiva, I hope and am confident, will immediately think of Akshay Kumar’s portrayal. That’s the kind of devotion we’ve tried to bring into this film."
He also shared his respect for fellow actors like Mohan Babu, Mohanlal, and Prabhas, saying, "They all have that undying spirit of never giving up, and I’ve learned a lot from them. Most of the people who acted in this movie did so because of the love they have for my father." Vishnu expressed his gratitude towards Mohanlal and Prabhas for their contribution to the film.
Kannappa directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh will hit the cinemas on 25th April, 2025.