Agent director Surender Reddy clears the air around differences with Akhil Akkineni, states reason behind shoot delay

Despite the two-year making span, the director shared Agent was wrapped in just over 100 working days

Akhil Akkineni and Surender Reddy

It has been a long journey for the team behind the Akhil Akkineni starrer Agent, directed by Surender Reddy. While the film was announced in 2021, the cast and crew went through several periods of uncertainty, anxiety to wrap up the shoot this year. There are several theories around the delays - from the differences between the actor and the director to poor planning. However, the lead star, director and the producer cleared the air about in a press meet held yesterday.

“I won’t deny it, when there were reports around the differences between me and the director, we had a good laugh. Just when we thought we’d wrapped a great shot, we were surprised to notice these rumours. In a span of two years, there will be periods of frustration; won’t it happen within a family too? Won’t there be days where you argue with one another? There was stress but we enjoyed every moment of this journey,” Akhil said.

Also read: Will Agent release in five languages on April 28? Akhil Akkineni clarifies

“No one was irritated with the other. In the two years of the making, a year went away with COVID-19. I was hospitalised for six months in Budapest. With a year and a half gone there, it’s disturbing when people claim the film is delayed. We faced several issues during the shoot, which can’t be disclosed in public platform. There were only 100 working days for Agent. We’re happy now,” Surender Reddy elaborated.

“I spent nearly 20 days on a ventilator in a COVID ward in Budapest. I know how the team stood me through my thick and thin. Henceforth, I don’t want to talk about the delays; this is the time to talk about the film,” the director added. “I clearly remembered the words he’d said after battling COVID-19 - ‘Now that I’ve nearly escaped death and came out of it, let me make this opportunity count and prove myself’,” Anil Sunkara shared.

Agent, also starring Sakshi Vaidya, Dino Morea, releases in theatres on April 28.

Also read: Agent star Akhil Akkineni: Mammootty’s presence intimidated me on sets

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