Producer Bhushan Kumar denies stalling Prabhas’s Spirit

T-Series head Bhushan Kumar has put an end to speculation surrounding director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s next project, firmly denying rumors that Vanga would prioritize “Animal Park,” the sequel to the 2023 blockbuster Animal, over the highly anticipated Prabhas-starrer “Spirit.”

In a recent interview, Bhushan Kumar clarified the production timeline, confirming that “Spirit” will take precedence, with filming set to begin by December 2025 and a release targeted for mid-2026, while Animal Park is slated to start production in early 2027 for a 2028 release.

“Animal Park will be after Spirit. Right now, we will be starting Spirit in the next 2-3 months. After we finish and release it, then we’ll go into Animal Park in 2027,” he said.

Spirit will not be shelved

The producer described “Spirit” as a “dream combination” of Vanga and Prabhas, emphasizing the actor’s excitement for the project. The cop action thriller will feature Prabhas as Assistant Commissioner of Police Arjun Singh Chauhan. Pre-production is in full swing, with music sessions already underway with composer Harshavardhan Rameshwar. Kumar added that Spirit’s cast is yet to be finalized, but the film is being mounted as a pan-India spectacle.

For Animal Park, Kumar revealed that Vanga has the story’s arc ready and will spend six months writing after Spirit’s completion. The sequel will see Ranbir Kapoor reprising his dual roles as Ranvijay Singh and Aziz Haque, alongside Rashmika Mandanna and Triptii Dimri, with a darker and more intense narrative.

With Spirit poised to redefine Prabhas’ action-hero persona and Animal Park set to deepen the gritty Animal universe, Vanga’s packed schedule promises a thrilling ride for Indian cinema enthusiasts.