Spirit Runtime Update: Prabhas' Actioner Will Be Shorter Than Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Arjun Reddy and Animal
Hyderabad, September 6 – Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, who is known for his intense, emotionally charged dramas like blockbusters Arjun Reddy, Kabir Singh, and Animal, has revealed the potential theatrical runtime of his highly-awaited film Spirit starring pan-India superstar Prabhas.
In a recent interaction, Vanga hinted that Spirit could be his shortest film to date in terms of runtime. During a talk show called Jayammu Nischayammu Raa on Zee5, SRV was asked about what the theatrical runtime of Spirit would be by host Jagapathi Babu.
The blockbuster director, who is teaming up with Prabhas for the first time, revealed that he would make sure that the runtime remains below 3 hours. If this happens, it will probably be his shortest film, even shorter than Shahid Kapoor-fronted Kabir Singh.
This is a surprising revelation considering the director's past works, which are known for their extended screen time, layered storytelling, and detailed character arcs. Kabir Singh (2019) was 172 minutes (2 hours and 52 minutes) long, while Vanga's other two movies, Arjun Reddy and Animal, clocked over 3 hours of runtime.
Apart from runtime, SRV also revealed that for Spirit, 70% of the music is already done, as he feels that it is easier to shoot a film when the BGM is playing in the background, as we can easily tell when to cut. "During Kabir Singh, I realised that if the RR is done before the shoot begins, then it makes shooting much easier. I didn’t have those privileges during Arjun Reddy, but for Animal, 80% of the RR was done before the shoot itself," he said.
The film marks Vanga's first collaboration with Prabhas, who will be seen playing a powerful cop in this high-voltage action drama. Given Prabhas' massive fan base and Vanga's reputation for hard-hitting, controversial storytelling, expectations are sky-high for Spirit, which is being mounted on a massive scale.
Produced by Bhushan Kumar's T-Series and Vanga's Bhadrakali Pictures, Spirit is one of the most anticipated Indian films, promising a blend of action, emotion, and Vanga's signature intensity. With the director now hinting at a sharper runtime, fans are curious to see how this change in storytelling style translates on the big screen.
The film, which has Tripti Dimri as the female lead as she reunites with Vanga after Animal, is currently in the pre-production stage and is expected to go on floors soon. It is expected to be released by late 2026 in multiple Indian and international languages.
Stay tuned...