Leader 2 in the Making? Sekhar Kammula Shares His Thoughts

Director Sekhar Kammula has finally responded to the long-standing curiosity surrounding Leader 2, the sequel to his 2010 political drama Leader. In a recent media interaction, as part of promotions for his upcoming film Kubera, the filmmaker confirmed that the idea has been with him for a while, but the timing and context continue to be key concerns.

Released in 2010, Leader marked the debut of Rana Daggubati and was backed by the iconic AVM Productions. Though it received a decent commercial response, the film gradually built a cult following for its grounded take on politics, youth leadership, and corruption. Over time, it came to be seen as one of the more significant political films in Telugu cinema. The idea of Leader 2 has remained a recurring demand from audiences, with even Rana publicly expressing interest in returning to the role.

Kammula, however, remains cautious. “I wanted to make a sequel to Leader. I had the thought initially, but now politics have changed—and more than that, Indian people have changed. I need to find that one strong line to build the story,” he said. He noted that while the script is almost ready, he is unsure if it aligns with the current political climate. “The mindset of people has evolved more than that of politicians,” he added, suggesting that a sequel must respond to today’s complexities rather than revisit old ideals.

For now, Kammula is focused on Kubera, which stars Dhanush, Nagarjuna, and Rashmika Mandanna. The film releases this Friday. He is also in early discussions with Nani for a separate project, which will be produced by SVCLLP—the same banner that backed his previous film Love Story and the upcoming Kubera. Kammula’s intent to revisit the world of Leader is clear—when the time and story are right.