Jyothi Krishna says Bobby Deo’s character was redesigned after Animal

Bollywood actor Bobby Deol is portraying the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in “Hari Hara Veera Mallu.” This film was originally intended to be his South Indian debut, but due to production delays, two other South Indian films — Kanguva and Daaku Maharaj — were released before it. When he signed “Hari Hara Veera Mallu,” he hadn’t even agreed to Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s “Animal.”

After Jyothi Krishna took over the reins of the project and watched Bobby Deol’s spellbinding performance in Animal, he decided to redesign the characterization of Aurangzeb.

Impressed by Bobby’s intense screen presence and his ability to convey powerful emotions with minimal dialogue, the director decided to completely revamp the character.

“Bobby Deol’s performance in Animal was spellbinding,” Jyothi Krishna shared. “The way he expressed emotions without uttering many lines left us all amazed. That inspired me to reimagine his character in our film, giving him a full makeover and a stronger arc.”

To better align with Bobby Deol’s screen persona and newfound stardom, Jyothi Krishna made significant changes to the character’s backstory, motivations, personality traits, and even physical portrayal. The goal was to bring more emotional depth and intensity to Aurangzeb’s role in the film.

“When I narrated the revised version, Bobby was thrilled,” said the director. “He’s an actor who constantly seeks new dimensions to explore and enjoys reinventing himself. In Hari Hara Veera Mallu, he appears far more intense. His commanding presence, regal elegance, and the way he communicates through his eyes are truly captivating. Working with him has been a fantastic experience.”

“Hari Hara Veera Mallu” that has Pawan Kalyan playing the titular role is scheduled for release on July 24, 2025.