When 'Sarileru Neekevvaru' was released in theatres, the train episode was described as lengthy, loud and even crass. The portion where Rashmika Mandanna's character fakes a rape attempt by Mahesh Babu's character received flak and understandably so.
In his latest interview, director Anil Ravipudi hinted that he wouldn't have infused such an episode but for the image afforded by 'F2'. After 'F2' became a big box-office hit, Ravipudi felt that the audience would expect a comedy episode in Mahesh's film as well. That's why he made the train episode an elaborate one.
In making Nandamuri Balakrishna's 'Bhagavanth Kesari', Ravipudi didn't succumb to the weight of expectations. He didn't force-fit any comedy track and even did away with a remixed song for the first week's run at the box office. The 'Pataas' and 'Supreme' director hinted that, if he were to make 'Sarileru Neekevvaru' today, he wouldn't write the train episode the way he did.
