Kichcha Sudeep starrer Phantom has commenced with shoot this morning at Annapurna Studios, Telangana, after the hiatus imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. With the Karnataka government allowing the resumption of shooting last month and the Telangana government from yesterday, the team has begun work at the sets which reportedly cost 4cr to construct.
The actor shared pictures from the sets and added that the cast and crew are complying with all the safety rules and regulations imposed by the governments without fail. He also added that every crew member right from the production staff to the direction department staff hail from the Kannada Film Industry. The team has opted for such an arrangement to provide work to those who were furloughed due to the lockdown.
#PhantomStartsRolling at hyd.
Every minute precautions’ve been taken care of by the production n its nicer to see great spirits and enthusiasm on set. Each available person is taking every necessary step to remain safe. Hoping for everything to sail through smoothly.
Best wshs🤗. pic.twitter.com/1IWKVXYVXw— Kichcha Sudeepa (@KicchaSudeep) July 16, 2020
Also happy tat though its a minimized crowd we were allowed to have acc to the govt rules tats been laid,, Every member on set, may it be Technical,Unit,Production,Art etc are from KFI. Intention was to provide work to as many members as we could from the family of KFI. https://t.co/FdabPAXCX2
— Kichcha Sudeepa (@KicchaSudeep) July 16, 2020
According to reports, the crew members are allowed to shuttle only between the arranged accommodation and sets at Telangana, the rules applying even for the few Telangana daily-wage workers whose help might be required on set. This has been done in order to avoid unnecessary movement. Though resulting in a steep bill, the call sheets of actors have also been booked in such a way that they are not on set for longer than two days a week, and then return after a few weeks to film their remaining portions.
Helmed by Anup Bhandari, Phantom is being bankrolled by Manjunath Gowda (Jack Manju) and wife Shalini Manjunath under the Shalini Artss banner. The adventure drama has reportedly roped in Shraddha Srinath as the female lead and B Ajaneesh Loknath will be composing for the film. Sudeep will be playing the role of Vikranth Rona with Nirup Bhandari who is said to have landed a significant role.
The film marks the first association of Anup Bhandari and Kichcha. The duo is also pairing up next for Billa Ranga Basha, a fantasy action-adventure movie being produced by Supriyanvi Picture Studio and KRK Showreel.
While crucial portions will be shot in Hyderabad, a major chunk of the scenes will also be filmed in Bengaluru. The team has already completed a schedule prior to the lockdown.
kichcha-sudeep-phantom-anup-bhandari
Meanwhile, the actor has been consistently and silently helping out the needy during the crisis. On Wednesday, the Dadasaheb Phalke International Awardee has adopted four schools located in Chitradurga district, Karnataka. His Kichcha Sudeep Charitable Trust is planning to digitize all the schools and install computers making them equipped for the post-pandemic situation.
In addition to this, his trust is also reportedly taking care of the salaries of the teachers in the schools. They are also working towards the scholarship part of the learning process.
