For debutant director Anup Bhandari, Rangitaranga has turned out to be a monumental experience with the film currently running to packed houses. It has even been rated highly in the IMDb ratings, an achievement not many Kannada films can boast of.
Taking a cue from the insights gained from making of the film, the director is planning his next in a couple of months. With his brother Nirup Bhandari, he plans to create a script which will be in a stark contrast to Rangitaranga. “I currently have two scripts - a romantic comedy and a comical entertainer. I have every intention to work on a different subject for my second film. I will start with pre-production in one-and-a-half months and decide on which one to choose. As of now, I have decided on Nirup to play the lead,” he says.
Currently, Anup is concentrating to garner more visibility in North Karnataka. “I am visiting a few theatres in the Northern part of the state and asking them to put my film Rangitaranga back, as it was removed during the time of Baahubali. My intention is take my film to every village in Karnataka. Having crossed the hurdle of losing audience to Baahubali and Bajarangi Bhaijaan, I am glad that my film still stands strong,” he says.
What is more encouraging for the director and the team is that Rangitaranga is in great demand overseas. The film will be released in the European market starting with Germany on August 1, followed by Holland. The film will also be released across Canada, New Zealand, USA, UK, Australia among other countries. “I was glad to hear from the overseas distributor of Mr and Mrs Ramachari that there is a tremendous demand for my film, which is a good sign,” he says.