Sudeep-starrer Phantom takes off

Ever since director Anup Bhandari and actor Kichcha Sudeep announced their intention to collaborate, fans and industry experts have been waiting eagerly to see what the two of them will bring to the table. The duo, we hear, are now ready to roll with their first film together, Phantom, shooting for which begins in Hyderabad on Monday. The team is still tight-lipped about other details, including casting, but tells us that pre-production work is on in full swing in Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
Manjunath Gowda, popularly known as Jack Manju in film circles, who is backing the project, says, “We have finished shooting for the poster and teaser in Hyderabad. Primary filming will begin on Monday. We have been working extensively on the preparations for the film. In fact, a massive set has already been created in Hyderabad, while another is in the works in Bengaluru. Shivu, our art director, is putting it together to facilitate smooth transition from the Hyderabad schedule to the one in Bengaluru.”
Questions about the leading lady, though, remain unanswered and all speculation about whether Samantha Akkineni will come to Kannada cinema will be laid to rest only when the team makes an official statement. What they do tell us is that they are also on the lookout for a young girl to be cast in a pivotal role. Anup’s brother and actor Nirup Bhandari is also reportedly a part of the film.