Shankar Opens Up About 'Game Changer': Not Completely Satisfied, Says Film Was Originally 5 Hours Long

S Shankar, the renowned director behind the hit film Game Changer, has shared that he isn’t fully happy with the final result of the movie. Despite its impressive box office numbers, the film has faced criticism from many reviewers. In a recent interview with Behindwoods TV, Shankar opened up about his thoughts on the project and admitted that he could have done better.

Game Changer, which stars Ram Charan and Kiara Advani, has had a strong showing at the box office. However, it’s clear that the film’s reception has been affected by the negative feedback it received from critics. This feedback hasn’t sat well with Shankar, who confessed that the film didn’t turn out exactly as he had hoped.

One of the main reasons for Shankar’s dissatisfaction seems to be the film’s length. He revealed that the original cut of Game Changer was over five hours long, a length that he felt was too much for audiences. In order to make the movie more accessible, many scenes were trimmed. However, this led to the final version losing some key moments, which Shankar feels could have added more depth to the film.

“I should have done better,” Shankar said, admitting that time constraints played a big part in his decision to shorten the film. He explained that a lot of good scenes were removed to make the movie fit a more manageable runtime. This led to a lot of changes in the film’s final form, something that left Shankar feeling a bit unsatisfied with the outcome.

Shankar is no stranger to long films. His past works have been known for their epic lengths, and Game Changer was no different. In fact, Shankar mentioned that he had originally intended to keep Game Changer at a much longer runtime, but the practical realities of releasing a film in theaters made that impossible. Cutting down the film was necessary, but Shankar admitted it wasn’t an easy decision.

The director also reflected on his experience with his previous project, Indian 2. After completing the movie, Shankar realized that it was far too long to be released in one part. He ended up splitting it into two films: Indian 2, which came out in theaters last year, and Indian 3, which will be released later in 2025. The original Indian, which was released in 1996, became a landmark film in Indian cinema. The sequel, featuring Kamal Haasan along with other stars like Siddharth and Rakul Preet Singh, has been highly anticipated by fans.

Despite the initial criticism Game Changer faced, the film continues to perform well at the box office. Its commercial success suggests that audiences have still connected with the story and the performances of the lead actors, Ram Charan and Kiara Advani. But for Shankar, it seems the film’s potential could have been greater, and he’s not shy about expressing his regret.

At the heart of Shankar’s frustration is the belief that the trimmed scenes would have elevated the film. As a director known for his attention to detail and passion for storytelling, it’s clear that Shankar wanted Game Changer to be something more than it ended up being. He hopes to take this experience as a lesson for future projects.

For now, Game Changer remains a box office success, but it’s evident that Shankar is already looking ahead, learning from this film, and determined to make sure his next projects don’t face the same issues. With Indian 3 on the horizon, fans of Shankar’s grand vision are excited to see what he brings to the big screen next.

While Shankar’s honesty about Game Changer is refreshing, it’s also a reminder of how difficult it can be for directors to balance their creative vision with the realities of making a commercial film. The journey from a 5-hour film to its final version is a challenge that many filmmakers face, and it’s clear Shankar is learning from each step along the way.

As audiences continue to enjoy Game Changer, Shankar seems focused on improving and evolving as a director, eager to bring his best work to the screen in the future.