Nagarjuna and Ram Gopal Varma come together after 36 years for Shiva 4K Dolby Atmos re-release: “People will be blown away”

The cult classic returns to theatres in a stunning remastered version, featuring messages from industry legends and a promise of an immersive experience.

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

November 5, 2025 - 12:05 PM IST

Telugu cinema witnessed a nostalgic and emotional moment as Nagarjuna Akkineni and filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma reunited in Hyderabad for the launch of the Shiva 4K Dolby Atmos trailer. The event marked 36 years since the original Shiva (1989) transformed the landscape of Indian filmmaking with its innovative storytelling and technical progress.

Nagarjuna and Ram Gopal Varma come together after 36 years for Shiva 4K Dolby Atmos re-release: “People will be blown away”

The special event featured a visual unit that included messages from leading film personalities such as Mani Ratnam, SS Rajamouli, Prabhas, Jr NTR, Allu Arjun, Mahesh Babu, and Sandeep Reddy Vanga, all paying tribute to the enduring legacy of Shiva.

Speaking at the launch, director Ram Gopal Varma shared his gratitude for reuniting with Nagarjuna after more than three decades. “We are glad to be on the same stage together after 36 years, and we never imagined that we would be here again for the Shiva 4K re-release. I’m really grateful for this opportunity once again and for the creative freedom I received from Nagarjuna,” he said.

He went on to describe the extensive technical work that went into the remastered version. “I spent two months on sound design 36 years ago, and now, after all these years, I’ve been given the same creative freedom again. Nagarjuna encouraged us not to compromise and to use the best technology available. The original sound was re-done and converted to a Dolby Atmos mix using advanced AI engineering. Damodar, who did the sound effects for Shiva, has his grandson working on this new version, and the results are even better than before. The remastered version looks so fresh and sharp,” RGV explained.

The filmmaker also got emotional while recalling his collaboration with Nagarjuna, saying, “I was given birth biologically by my parents, but my true birth as a filmmaker was given by Nagarjuna.”

Nagarjuna, who headlined the iconic film, reflected on how Shiva changed his career. “Thirty-six years ago, Ram Gopal Varma directed Shiva and made me a big star. I saw the remastered version of Shiva 4K today, and it has come out extremely well,” he said, adding that audiences will be “blown away” by the Dolby Atmos experience.

The actor also revealed a personal connection with the film’s re-release date. “Shiva 4K is releasing on November 14, while the original Shiva released on October 5. These dates hold deep significance for me as they align with key milestones from my father ANR garu’s cinematic journey,” he shared.

The Shiva 4K Dolby Atmos re-release is set to hit theatres on November 14, 2025, promising fans a chance to relive the timeless classic in a refreshed, immersive format that blends nostalgia with next-generation technology.

Also Read: Ram Gopal Varma looks back at Shiva ahead of its re-release, “Shiva represents the ideal of self-respect, to that extent he’s almost Gandhian”