Bhogi director Sampath Nandi salutes junior artistes braving fire on set
Synopsis
While blockbusters are built on star power, director Sampath Nandi's tribute to Bhogi's junior artistes — working through fire, dust, and smoke on a 20-day climax shoot — puts the spotlight on the invisible backbone of Indian cinema, just weeks before the pan-India film's Raksha Bandhan release.
Key Takeaways
Director Sampath Nandi publicly saluted junior artistes and character actors of 'Bhogi' on 15 July , sharing a behind-the-scenes image of them working amid fire and smoke.
The film's climax is being shot on a massive set designed by art director Kiran Kumar Manne , with action choreographed by stunt master Dilip Subbarayan .
The climax schedule was planned for 20 days , with Sharwanand reportedly undertaking intense, high-risk stunt work.
Anupama Parameswaran plays Kandula Sulochana Rani and Dimple Hayathi plays Mandaram; Sharwanand plays a character named Ganga . 'Bhogi' is set in the early 1960s and releases on 28 August in five languages.
Director Sampath Nandi has penned a heartfelt tribute to the junior artistes and character actors working on his upcoming period action drama 'Bhogi', starring Sharwanand in the lead role. The post, shared on 15 July, was accompanied by a behind-the-scenes image showing background artistes at work amid fire and smoke on the film's massive climax set.
What Sampath Nandi Said
In his tribute, Nandi wrote: 'We often celebrate the lead actors and filmmakers when a film succeeds. But the truth is, without our background artistes and character actors, a film is incomplete.' He went on to acknowledge the physical toll the work demands: 'They work through dust, fire, smoke, and extreme conditions. The only words they wait to hear are, Action… and they give their absolute best without hesitation.'
Nandi signed off with a direct message to his junior artistes: 'You may not always be in the spotlight, but you are the heartbeat of every frame. Thank you. #sharwasampathbloodfest #bhogishoot.'
The Climax Shoot: Scale and Stakes
The tribute comes as the 'Bhogi' unit is deep into filming the film's high-voltage climax sequence on a specially erected set, designed by art director Kiran Kumar Manne. The action set-pieces have been conceived and choreographed by stunt master Dilip Subbarayan in what the team describes as a never-before-seen style. According to sources close to the production, Sharwanand is reportedly pushing the envelope with intense, high-risk stunt work in this crucial segment. The climax schedule was planned for 20 days.
Characters and Cast
The makers have already unveiled the first looks of the film's female leads. Anupama Parameswaran plays Kandula Sulochana Rani, a resilient woman rooted in nature who earns her livelihood crafting leaf plates from Moduga leaves — a character described as embodying quiet strength. Dimple Hayathi plays Mandaram, described as a bold, powerful character who is indifferent to the world's opinion. Sharwanand's character, revealed on the actor's birthday, is named Ganga.
About Bhogi: Setting and Crew
Set in the early 1960s, 'Bhogi' is a period action drama unfolding in a fictional village along the borders of Telangana and Maharashtra. Cinematography is handled by Kishore Kumar Arokia, with music by Bheems Ceciroleo and production design by Kiran Kumar Manne.
Planned as a pan-India release, the film is set to hit screens in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi on 28 August, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan.
Point of View
But a social media tribute only goes so far. The real measure of that appreciation is whether junior artistes on high-risk sets — working through live fire and smoke — receive adequate safety protocols, fair compensation, and insurance coverage. The 'Bhogi' climax shoot's reported 20-day schedule underscores how much invisible labour goes into a single action sequence. The industry's awards circuit and promotional machinery almost never acknowledge this tier; Nandi's post, however sincere, also functions as effective pre-release publicity for a film banking on its spectacle.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Sampath Nandi post a tribute to junior artistes?
Sampath Nandi posted the tribute on 15 July to acknowledge the physically demanding and often unrecognised work of background artistes and character actors on the set of 'Bhogi'. He shared an image of junior artistes working amid fire and smoke, calling them 'the heartbeat of every frame.'
What is 'Bhogi' and when does it release?
'Bhogi' is a pan-India period action drama set in the early 1960s in a fictional village along the Telangana-Maharashtra border, starring Sharwanand in the lead. It releases on 28 August in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan.
Who are the female leads in 'Bhogi' and what are their characters?
Anupama Parameswaran plays Kandula Sulochana Rani, a nature-rooted woman who crafts leaf plates from Moduga leaves, while Dimple Hayathi plays Mandaram, described as a bold and powerful character. Both first looks have already been unveiled by the makers.
What is the scale of the 'Bhogi' climax shoot?
The climax is being filmed on a massive specially erected set, with action choreographed by stunt master Dilip Subbarayan in a never-before-seen style. The schedule was reportedly planned for 20 days, with Sharwanand undertaking intense, high-risk stunt sequences.
Who is on the technical crew of 'Bhogi'?
The film's crew includes cinematographer Kishore Kumar Arokia, music composer Bheems Ceciroleo, production designer Kiran Kumar Manne, and stunt choreographer Dilip Subbarayan, with Sampath Nandi directing.
