Krish-Breaks-Silence-on-Exit-From-Pawan-Kalyan’s-Hari-Hara-Veera-MalluA-Passionate-Creative-Battle

Why Krish Left Pawan Kalyan's Epic: The Untold clash behind Hari Hara Veera Mallu

For several months, the Telugu film industry has been speculating why Krish vanished from Hari Hara Veera Mallu, the period drama starring Pawan Kalyan. Now, it has been revealed that Krish's exit occurred due to a passionate battle over creative vision.  

The celebrated director said this when he discussed the situation with Film Companion. He called the movie a battle between integrity and expectation. He shared that when two profound visions converge, sometimes one has to walk away. According to sources in the industry, Krish's script was rewritten five times before he left in March of 2025.

Creative Differences Bring Production to a Standstill

Sources close to the production reported that Krish's gritty, historically grounded version was in contrast to the collective wish of the team for a spectacle that would provide mass-market entertainment. A crew member, who chose to remain anonymous, wrote that Krish's philosophical and ideological approach was genuine and aligned closely with Kanche. 

The producers wanted to have a heroic vision of their work.  In the end, the producers consider the continuing situation as nothing to be concerned about, even if the $35 million project is delayed for months.

Pawan Kalyan's team quite graciously put out a statement that said the split was mutually amicable; however, trade analysts have suggested that the actor-producer quickly brought in a new director to save the schedule. Hari Hara Veera Mallu is set to release on July 24, with paid premieres on July 23. 

Pawan Kalyan as Hari Hara Veera Mallu - with fire in his eyes and intention in every frame. Director Krish described him to be the soul and the spirit of the film. ( source: Times Of India)

Industry Response to the Aftermath

Film commentator Baradwaj Rangan pointed out that the incident reflects the growing divide in Telugu cinema between auteurism and star cinema. According to Box Office India data, when directors leave a top-tier star vehicle with an intention to honor mid-production obligations, they only recoup about 23% of the costs.

Krish's departure also sparked discussion about creative authority. Deccan Chronicle published an FTII report in 2025 where 68% of directors admitted that they were pressured into rewriting or filming their scripts according to the stars' wishes.

What’s in Store for Krish and the Film? 

Krish has moved on to Udyama Simham, a political thriller with NTR Jr. and Hari Hara. Veera Mallu will continue with a new director. Kalyan’s team claimed a bigger, better vision, but fans worry that the fundamental soul is gone.  Krish said that not every war is about winning, but about preserving your craft.

Pawan rarely promotes films ( in fact, he has been known to talk about them even before a press opportunity). He met with the press in Hyderabad to promote the film and spoke highly of it at the pre-release event on Monday. The film will feature Pawan as the titular outlaw, Bobby Deol as Aurangzeb, and Nidhi Agrewal as a dancer named Panchami. Veera Mallu faces off against Mughal rule on his quest for the Koh-i-Noor in the film. 

The Never-Ending War of Indian Cinema

The very public feud between the two camps also reflects the delicate line between art and commerce in modern Indian film. With both sides being intentional and assertive, the rest of the industry waits to see if Hari Hara Veera Mallu can somehow shed its morass of a production history and be successful.