Development

Prashanth Neel, worked on the film's screenplay after the release of Ugramm (2014), and
development of the film began in early 2015.[18] However, he decided to split the film in two parts,
as the narration of this story is in non-linear format, and the decision to split the film into two parts,
also had to with the commercial prospects. In an interview with The Times of India, in October 2018,
he added “The scale of the project is huge and we had a scope for a beginning, an interval and an
end for both parts, so it made sense for us to release it as two parts”. As for the decision to make it
as a multilingual, he says that it was because the film is based on a unique idea and has a universal
theme.[19] In December 2020, Prashanth Neel confirmed that there is no third instalment in the KGF
franchise.[20]

Prashanth Neel decided to rope in composer Ravi Basrur[21] and cinematographer Bhuvan Gowda as
a part of the technical crew for the second part of the film.[22][23]

Casting

While Yash and Srinidhi Shetty have reprised their respective roles, Sanjay Dutt was roped in for a
pivotal role in February 2019.[24] Media rumours that Raveena Tandon would appear in the film
started making rounds as early as February 2019.[25] A news report in The Times of India confirmed
that Tandon will be seen in a "major role" in the film.[15] Despite Srinidhi becoming a breakout star,
post the release of the predecessor, she rejected seven films, in order to start shoot for the film.[26]
The makers hosted an audition in April 2019, for aspiring actors who want to become a part of the
film's cast.[27]

On 29 July 2019,[28] Sanjay Dutt was revealed to be playing the role of the main antagonist Adheera.
[29][30][31] He compared his character to Thanos, and revealed that it was "shown to be a
dangerous character with scary makeup" and added that it was a role he was looking for.[32]
Raveena Tandon was reported to play the role of Prime Minister Ramika Sen, and stated that "it was
a difficult character to portray".[33]

Telugu actor Rao Ramesh was cast in a pivotal role in May 2019,[34] and Tamil actor Saran Shakthi
was cast in August 2019.[35] On 26 August 2020, when the filming resumed, Prakash Raj was also
revealed to be playing an important character.[16][36]

Filming

Before the release of its predecessor in December 2018, the makers shot 20% of its second part, and
the crew went on double shifts till January 2019.[37] On 4 January, it was announced that they have
completed 15% of the shooting, and planned to resume the film in the summer of 2019.[38]
Filming for K.G.F: Chapter 2 started on 13 March 2019 in Hyderabad, with a formal puja ceremony.
[39] After an initial round of filming near Bangalore in May 2019,[40] Yash announced that he will
join the sets only in June 2019.[41] The film's shooting started on 4 June at the Lalita Mahal Palace in
Mysore,[42] although Yash joined the sets on 6 June.[43] Later the shoot commenced in August
2019 at Cyanide Hills in Kolar Gold Fields.[44] On 28 August 2019, N Srinivas, president of the KGF's
National Citizens Party filed a petition against the makers and alleged that the film is being shot in
the protected area of cyanide mound and is damaging the nature.[45] The JMFC court has issued an
injunction notice to the producer Kiragandur, also ordering to stall the shoot.[46] On 4 September,
the producers claimed that the stay order was issued a day before the makers planned to wrap the
shoot schedule.[47] The same day, the makers started shooting for the second schedule in
Hyderabad.[48][49] On 25 September 2019, Sanjay Dutt joined the sets of the film in Hyderabad.[50]
[51] After winning the court stay order on 27 September,[52] the makers returned to shoot the film
at Cyanide Hills.[53] On 14 October 2019, the makers returned to Karnataka, after filming the
extensive schedule in Hyderabad.[54]

As of 27 January 2020, the makers completed 80% of the shoot.[55] With the schedule being filmed
in Mysore, the last leg of shoot was expected to be held in Hyderabad, and then in Bangalore and
Kolar.[56] On 3 February 2020, behind-the-scenes video of Yash shooting at the Infosys campus in
Mysore went viral.[57] On 10 February, Telugu actor Rao Ramesh joined the sets of the film.[58]
Raveena Tandon joined the sets of the film in Mysore on 12 February.[59] After the second schedule
of the film held in Mysore got completed, the makers headed to Hyderabad on 21 February.[60]
Raveena completed her portions on 28 February.[61] The makers completed major portions in
March 2020, with post-production works being kickstarted, but filming came to a halt due to the
COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in India.[62] Prashanth Neel claimed that Sanjay Dutt had completed
shooting for the film, with only dubbing for his portions, is pending,[63] after Sanjay Dutt was
diagnosed with lung cancer, and left US for immediate treatment on 12 August 2020.[64]

The film was resumed on 26 August 2020 at Bangalore post a gap of 5 months.[65] Malavika Avinash
and Prakash Raj joined the sets on this schedule.[66][67] On 7 October 2020, Yash and Srinidhi
Shetty resumed the shoot at Mangalore,[68] with the team entering the final leg of shoot.[69] Sanjay
Dutt confirmed that he will join the shooting of the film on November,[70] although he resumed the
shooting only in December.[71] The climax action scenes were filmed in December 2020 at
Hyderabad,[72][73] which were choreographed by action director Anbariv.[74] On 20 December
2020, the makers announced that the climax scene of the film was completed.[75][76] The team
planned to complete the shooting of the film within January 2021.[77]

Music

The film score has been composed by Ravi Basrur.

Marketing
As a part of the promotional activities, a fictional newspaper named KGF Times was designed based
on vintage newspapers.[78] Starting from 4 to 10 January 2021, the makers unveiled the new
editions of the film through their social media accounts.[79]

The teaser trailer was initially scheduled to release on 8 January 2021, coinciding with Yash's
birthday.[80][81] However, after few cuts from the teaser leaked through the internet,[82] the
makers unveiled the teaser on 7 January, ahead of the official launch.[83] Instead of releasing the
teaser in five languages, the makers released it as a single teaser featuring English dialogues.[84] It
became the most viewed and most liked teaser.[85][86]

Release

Theatrical

K.G.F: Chapter 2 was originally scheduled to release in theatres on 23 October 2020,[87] coinciding
with Dusshera festival.[88] But the release was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in India.
[89] On 29 January 2021, the filmmakers announced [90] that it will be released theatrically on 16
July 2021 [91] in Kannada and dubbed versions of Telugu, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam languages.
[92] However, it was postponed again for the same reason.[93]

Distribution

KRG Studios, a sister company of the film's studio Hombale Films, bought the distribution rights of
the Kannada version while the film's Hindi version would be distributed by Rithesh Sidhwani, Farhan
Akhtar and Anil Thadani under their banners Excel Entertainment and AA Films who had also bought
the predecessor of the film.[1][94] The rights for the Telugu dubbed version were sold to Dil Raju's
Sri Venkateswara Creations.[2][95] whereas Prithviraj Sukumaran acquired the rights for the
Malayalam dubbed version under his Prithviraj Productions banner.[4][96] The rights for the Tamil
dubbed version were acquired by Dream Warrior Pictures.[3]

Controversy

The Karnataka State Anti-Tobacco Cell sent a notice to actor Yash, producer Vijay Kiragandur and
filmmaker Prashanth Neel on 11 January 2021[97] as the makers failed to display the anti-smoking
warning message, particularly in the sequences that involve Yash smoking.[98] As per the law, anti-
smoking warnings have to be displayed to stop fans from emulating it.[99]

References

"Price re-negotiation for Yash's KGF 2; Excel Entertainment acquires Hindi rights for a bomb".
Bollywood Hungama. 25 January 2021.

"KGF Chapter 2: Dil Raju Pays A Monstrous Amount To Bag Telugu Distribution Rights?". 24 February
2021.
"Top banner acquires KGF Chapter 2's Tamil Nadu rights".

"Actor Prithviraj acquires Kerala distribution rights of KGF: Chapter 2". Hindustan Times. 5 January
2021.

"Yash rocking star Upcoming Movies 2021, Release Date, Trailer and Budget - Information News".
indiatoday.in. Retrieved 30 January 2021.

Shrinag (8 December 2018). "Meet The Technicians Of KGF Movie - The Off-Screen Heroes Of India's
Next Big Flick". MetroSaga. Retrieved 14 January 2021.

"Yash's KGF: Chapter 2 will release on October 23, confirm sources". India Today. 14 May 2020.
Retrieved 27 June 2021.

"KGF 2: Yash starrer gets a release date | Entertainment News,The Indian Express".
indianexpress.com. Retrieved 30 January 2021.

"KGF 2 VS Heropanti 2 Box Office Clash: Yash And Tiger Shroff To Compete With Each Other At
Ticket Window". india.com. Retrieved 30 January 2021.

Janani K (18 June 2021). "Yash's KGF Chapter 2 won't release on July 16 due to Covid-19 pandemic".
India Today. Retrieved 27 June 2021.

"The time is not right: Director Prashanth Neel on 'KGF Chapter 2' release date". Deccan Herald. 6
June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.

"Yash's KGF 2 hinders tie up with Puri Jagannadh". The Times of India. 20 August 2019. Retrieved 19
September 2019.

"KGF Chapter 2 Update: Prakash Raj Character Revealed". 26 March 2021.

"KGF: Chapter 2, Mahasamudram makers unveil first look posters of Rao Ramesh on his birthday".
The Indian Express. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.

"'KGF Chapter-2': Team commences the shoot in Cyanide hills". The Times of India.

"Vada Chennai-fame Saran Sakthi joins KGF Chapter 2". The New Indian Express.

"Whatever roles I have got to play, I have been grateful for them, says actor Appaji Ambarisha
Darbha". The Times of India. 12 August 2020.

"Yash And Radhika Pandit To Pair Up Again In KGF!". Filmibeat. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 25
December 2018.

"Yash's 'KGF' is about a gangster's rise and fall". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 January 2021.

""There won't be a part 3 to 'K.G.F'": Director Prashanth Neel squashes every rumor regarding
'K.G.F: Chapter 3'". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 January 2021.

"Music composer Ravi Basrur scouts for musicians to work on 'KGF Chapter 2'". Deccan Herald. 5
October 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2021.

"KGF 2 will be on par with Hollywood movies: Bhuvan Gowda". The Indian Express. 1 January 2019.
Retrieved 8 January 2021.

"KGF cinematographer Bhuvan Gowda: I shot every scene with a 40-kg camera on my shoulder".
The New Indian Express. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
"Sanjay Dutt roped in for KGF Chapter 2?". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 January 2021.

"KGF Chapter 2: Raveena Tandon in talks with Yash film?".

"Did you know that Srinidhi Shetty rejected seven films for 'KGF: Chapter 2'?". The Times of India.
Retrieved 9 January 2021.

"'KGF Chapter-2' audition pulls crowd from across India". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 January
2021.

"'KGF' Adheera first look released, Sanjay Dutt plays the role". The Times of India. Retrieved 9
January 2021.

"Sanjay Dutt's look as Adheera in KGF 2 unveiled". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 January 2021.

"Is Sanjay Dutt Adheera in Yash's KGF: Chapter 2?". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 January 2021.

"Sanjay Dutt confirms he is part of K.G.F: Chapter 2, shares first look on his birthday". Mumbai
Mirror.

"Sanjay Dutt compares his 'KGF Chapter 2' role as Adheera