# Vishwambhara

Vishwambhara (transl. The Universe) is an upcoming Indian Telugu-language fantasy action film written and directed by Mallidi Vassishta and produced by UV Creations. The film stars Chiranjeevi, Trisha Krishnan, Kunal Kapoor, Meenakshi Chaudhary and Ashika Ranganath in lead roles.

## Cast

* Chiranjeevi
* Trisha Krishnan
* Kunal Kapoor
* Meenakshi Chaudhary
* Ashika Ranganath
* Surbhi Puranik
* Isha Chawla
* Subhalekha Sudhakar
* Rao Ramesh
* Rajeev Kanakala

## Production
### Pre-production

Vishwambhara was announced under the tentative title Mega 156, intending to be Chiranjeevi's 156th film, on 22 August 2023, which was also his birthday. It was launched with a muhurtam pooja on 23 October 2023 in Hyderabad, and was attended by the film's crew and many other famous people of Telugu cinema. The film is being produced under the banner UV Creations.
It was initially rumoured that the film would be a sequel to the 1990 fantasy film, Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari, which also starred Chiranjeevi in the lead role. Thereafter, Vyjayanthi Movies announced on Twitter that only they had the rights to use the film in any derivative form, including producing a sequel. While Vishwambhara's crew was not explicitly called out by the film production house, it was rumoured that they were trying to warn them of the consequences of an unauthorised reproduction of Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari. Vassishta clarified afterwards that his film was a new story and was completely unrelated to the film.

### Filming

Thirteen distinct sets were created and erected in Hyderabad's Annapurna Studios, and production designer, A. S. Prakash, supervised the construction of the sets. It was reported that approximately 70% of the film will heavily incorporate visual effects, in order to showcase spiritual elements. In late 2023 and through January 2024, a few scenes that did not feature Chiranjeevi were shot in Maredumilli. He joined the sets in early February 2024. The overseas rights were purchased and acquired by film distributor Sarigama Cinemas for a price of ₹18 crore. As a result of the unavailability of Asin and Anushka Shetty, Trisha Krishnan was cast as the lead heroine, thus marking her return to Telugu cinema after 8 years since Nayaki.
The crew began a filming schedule in the city of Nalgonda, but subsequently returned to Hyderabad to resume shooting in late February. During the Hyderabad production schedule, an action sequence and a few songs were shot. The crew filmed a song sequence choreographed by Shobhi Master. The song will also reportedly feature a set, which was previously used in Guntur Kaaram. Vijay Binni also choreographed another song for the film. At Ramoji Film City, an action block was shot in a constructed forest environment. The fight sequence happens while amidst water, mud, and dust. Throughout the scene, the fighters, including Chiranjeevi, were covered in mud. To give the mud a realistic appearance, it was made using real sand. Afterwards, another filming schedule commenced in late 2024 at Lingampally to film the interval action scene in a large set with a 54 feet (16 m) Hanuman statue erected by A. S. Prakash.
On 22 April 2024, the action sequence finished completion after twenty-six days, and represents the longest time Chiranjeevi has spent on a single stunt scene in his entire career. Another schedule commenced on 22 May 2024, and the main portion of the film was shot at the Annapurna Seven Acres studio in Hyderabad.