Direct OTT release was never considered as a good option by the Indian filmmakers till coronavirus made its entry.  Situations completely changed after the lockdown restrictions and closure of theaters.  With the rise of OTT viewership, some filmmakers are also changing their opinion regarding the OTT release.  But the big-ticket films are against the idea of OTT release. At this juncture, there are reports in the media that Mahesh Babu's film is going for OTT release.

Mahesh Babu starrer 'Maharshi' has been dubbed into Tamil with the title 'Rishi'.  The Tamil version producers initially planned to release the movie in the summer season but their plans have gone haywire with the closure of theaters. Now, they are planning to go for OTT release because they will be able to recover the investment.

'Maharshi' directed by Vamsi Paidipally was a super hit at the box office. Pooja Hegde played the love interest of Mahesh Babu in the film.  Another Tollywood hero Allari Naresh played a crucial role in the movie.