Power Star Pawan Kalyan’s Ustaad Bhagat Singh hit theaters on March 19, 2026, clashing with Dhurandhar: The Revenge. Directed by Harish Shankar, the film ended up as a clear disappointment at the box office. Despite the result, the director confidently called it his best work and continued to promote it as a success.
Now, the film has arrived on Netflix, streaming not just in Telugu but also in Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam. While this expands its reach, it also puts the film under a much bigger spotlight.
With its OTT release, Ustaad Bhagat Singh is now open to nationwide scrutiny. Given its theatrical reception, the film is expected to face strong criticism from a wider audience, especially those watching it for the first time.
Harish Shankar had earlier lashed out at viewers who shared negative opinions during the theatrical run. In a surprising turn, he recently admitted at a public event that the film underperformed. This shift makes the current phase even more crucial, as reactions continue to pour in.
The pressure is now firmly on the director. Social media response is already picking up, and how Harish Shankar handles the criticism this time will be closely watched.
A similar backlash was seen during The Raja Saab, where director Maruthi chose to stay away from the public eye for months. Whether Harish Shankar takes a different route or responds actively remains to be seen.
That said, OTT has often changed the fate of films. If Ustaad Bhagat Singh manages to click with a section of viewers, it could still turn the narrative around for the makers.
The film also stars Sreeleela, Raashii Khanna, Parthiban, and Rao Ramesh in key roles. It is produced by Mythri Movie Makers, with music composed by Devi Sri Prasad and background score by Thaman.