December 31, 2024: When the clock struck 12, actor Shree Nandu, director Varun Reddy and the team of the Telugu film Psych Siddhartha continued their shooting schedule in Shaikpet, Hyderabad. “We knew there would be fireworks and the skies would be lit up in colours. We used this backdrop for a sequence. Rather than buy fireworks and shoot or opt for visual effects, we made use of the New Year cheer,” says Nandu, during this interview at Spirit Media office, Ramanaidu Studios. Every rupee mattered in the making of this indie-style film. Psych Siddhartha is scheduled to release on January 1, 2026.
Nandu and Varun’s collaborative journey goes back nearly a decade. Movie buffs might be familiar with the characters Nandu portrayed in hits such as 100% Love and Pelli Choopulu, and a brief part in the recent Dhandoraa. “It’s been a 19-year journey as an actor,” he says, taking stock of ups and downs.
Sports commentary in Telugu on Star Sports made him a household name. He continued to act, but the film that could fetch him recognition was elusive. Rather than wait for something interesting, he decided to direct one. Though he is credited with ‘additional screenplay’ for Psych Siddhartha, he admits, “I am not good at writing, so I wanted to work with a writer.” He met Varun, an architect who is passionate about cinema, through director Tharun Bhascker’s team.
The two worked on several ideas, but there was always the last mile issue — finding a producer who would back their vision.
They paused. Varun went back to architecture and Nandu got busy with television. Later, Varun made a 40-minute film and asked Nandu if he could help get an OTT release. Watching the film, Nandu sensed its potential to be a full-length feature. The two developed the concept and Psych Siddhartha took shape.
Again, it wasn’t easy.
“There was a phase when I would animatedly narrate the story to producers but nothing would materialise. Varun thought there’s no point. I persisted, but ultimately it was disheartening,” says Nandu.
At one point, a producer agreed to fund the film but wanted a different actor since Nandu’s market potential was limited. “I agreed to step back,” says Nandu. However, the producer wanted several changes in the script, and Varun returned to work with Nandu.
The two decided to pool in their savings and make the film.
Nandu and Yamini Bhaskar in the film
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
When asked if the film projects an alpha male character, Nandu says with a laugh, “The teaser and trailer were intentionally cut to raise curiosity.” He adds that while the first half is edgy, the second half presents a well-rounded perspective of a romance drama.
The making of Psych Siddhartha is a story in itself. Nandu doubled up as production manager, while an assistant director coordinated food from a mess in Shaikpet. They also befriended people in the neighbourhood. A few props and household items necessary for the film were borrowed from the nearby homes and returned after use. “A lot of jugaad,” as Nandu puts it.
“We had no caravans. We used one room to get dressed or rest between shots. We had one makeup person between me and the lead actress Yamini Bhaskar. She’s the owner of a cafe and would get us pancakes and gourmet food to supplement the mess food.”
Working with a crew of not more than 15 or 20 for 40 days, Nandu drew inspiration from how actors Adivi Sesh and Siddhu Jonnalagadda turned writers to chart their own destiny rather than wait for a good film. “The documentary Journey of Kshanam is one that I recommend to a lot of people. What Sesh and director Ravikanth Perepu pulled off is inspirational,” says Nandu, referring to the 2016 thriller made in a little over a crore but looked a lot more sophisticated, and more importantly, its storytelling kept the audiences hooked.
Psych Siddhartha, says Nandu, will usher in a new voice in filmmaking and its editing style is innovative.
Varun and Nandu also went against a few industry norms. When they weren’t happy with the result of dubbing at an expensive studio, they set up acoustics by themselves and did it again. Editing was done at editor Prateek Nuti’s home studio. Sound design was done by Annapurna College of Film and Media graduates Chathurvedhi Thirunagari and Uday Appala.
Once the film was completed, Nandu organised screenings for focus groups to get feedback and improve the final product. During a screening at the residence of actor Kireeti Damaraju, a team member of Rana’s Spirit Media watched the film. “He liked it and asked others in the team to watch it. Suresh sir (producer Suresh Babu) learnt about this and asked for a screening. When he and Rana bought our film, it was a huge sense of achievement,” says Nandu.
He is looking forward to the audiences’ response, and says, “It’s a simple story; the narrative style makes it different. I hope people like it. So far, the way we made this film has earned us some respect in the industry. That’s a win.”
Published – December 30, 2025 04:02 pm IST