Shankar’s debut Telugu film, Game Changer, featuring Ram Charan and Kiara Advani in the lead roles, is set to premiere in theaters on January 10. In light of stricter regulations following the tragic stampede at Sandhya Theatre during a benefit show for Pushpa 2, the Telangana government has denied permission for a 1 am screening. However, ticket price increases and additional shows have been authorized.
In contrast, the Andhra Pradesh government has approved benefit shows for Game Changer, with the first show commencing at 1 am. A member of Ram Charan’s team shared the Telangana government’s order on X (formerly Twitter). The government has eased certain restrictions in exchange for the screening of advertisements aimed at raising awareness about cybercrime, narcotics, and drugs, but denied permission for the early morning shows.
For the opening day, six shows have been authorized, along with an additional five shows allowed over the subsequent nine days, ending January 19. A 4 am show is approved for the opening, and ticket prices will be increased by ₹150 for multiplexes and ₹100 for single screens, including GST. For the following days, ticket prices will rise by ₹100 in multiplexes and ₹50 in single screens. Bookings in the state began after this government order was issued.
Following the December 4 stampede incident that resulted in a woman’s death and her son sustaining critical injuries, Minister for Roads and Buildings and Cinematography Komatireddy Venkata Reddy declared in the Assembly on December 21, 2024, that benefit shows would only be permitted for films addressing social issues or patriotism. The Minister emphasized that film stars should adhere to regulations and refrain from roadshows when police deny permission, stating that the government is focused on supporting the film industry through various incentives.
In addition to Ram Charan and Kiara Advani, Game Changer features Anjali, Samuthirakani, SJ Suryah, and Srikanth in significant roles. The film has a production budget exceeding ₹400 crore, with ₹75 crore allocated for song sequences composed by Thaman S. The story, penned by Karthik Subbaraj, will be released in multiple languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi. Production commenced in 2021 and concluded in 2024.
Ram Charan’s previous film, RRR, directed by SS Rajamouli, was a major success, while Shankar’s last film, Indian 2, starring Kamal Haasan, Siddharth, and Rakul Preet Singh, did not achieve notable success. Expectations for Game Changer are significantly high.