The curiosity surrounding Pawan Kalyan’s much-awaited cop drama Ustaad Bhagat Singh continues to intensify, especially after the makers wrapped up the film’s complete shooting formalities. While the team is now searching for a favourable release date in April next year, the big question still lingers among fans and film circles: is Ustaad Bhagat Singh an official or unofficial remake of Thalapathy Vijay’s blockbuster Theri? Despite multiple reports and industry buzz hinting at similarities, the team has not issued a clear answer.

Director Harish Shankar has remained silent on the matter, adding more mystery to the situation. Though the makers have repeatedly assured fans that the film won’t give a remake feel, buzz persists that Ustaad Bhagat Singh draws inspiration from Theri, especially with talk that the core storyline has been retained. Harish Shankar’s track record further adds weight to the speculation. He is well known for reworking remake scripts by infusing strong Telugu nativity and mass appeal, similar to what he achieved with Gabbar Singh, the Telugu adaptation of Salman Khan’s Dabangg. Industry insiders believe he has once again adapted the script to fit Pawan Kalyan’s personality, style, and screen presence.

Mythri Movie Makers producer Ravi stepped forward to address the rising chatter. He stated that Ustaad Bhagat Singh will exceed expectations and highlighted the strength of the script, confidently asserting that the film will not have any remake feel. Instead of ending debates, his comments added more uncertainty, as they neither confirmed nor denied connections to Theri. With the film gearing up for promotions soon, clarity may finally arrive in the coming weeks. The team is planning to release the first single as a New Year surprise, which is expected to set the tone for the promotional campaign. Fans will have to wait a little longer to know whether Ustaad Bhagat Singh is truly inspired by Theri or stands as an entirely original story.