Ever since its release, Mayasabha has sparked a lot of talk, with many thinking it’s a hidden biopic based on the lives of Andhra Pradesh leaders, YS Rajasekhar Reddy and N. Chandrababu Naidu. Viewers have pointed out clear similarities between the show’s storyline and real-life politics in the state. But director, Deva Katta clarified that the series is a fictional drama inspired by emotions, not a real political story. Here’s what he had to say about the rumours.
Mayasabha: Rise of the Titans is not a biopic
Deva Katta, in a recent interview for The Hindu, addressed the speculations of Mayasabha being a biopic. He said nobody fully knows the other person’s story, hence out of pure respect, he would not call it a biopic. He said they have been very careful with the portrayal of the characters, which were made out of legendary perspectives but not meant to be look-alikes. He could be quoted as saying:
“We are all limited with our observational skills, and there is a general perspective running, so I don’t want to call it a biopic out of pure respect for people’s sentiment.”
Origin of the idea for Mayasabha: Rise of the Titans
Deva Katta credited the initial concept of Mayasabha to one of his producers, who pitched a House of Cards-style political series rooted in regional dynamics and political history. Rather than mimicking actual politicians, Deva’s focus was on crafting an emotional story. He wanted to create characters that might echo traits found in real events and political figures, but the intent behind them was to explore political themes rather an any individual life story. He could be quoted as saying:
“The main charging point for Mayasabha was from a simple thought from one of the producers. He was a mad fan of House of Cards fan. In a way, in House of Cards, you can’t relate the characters to any US political history, but you will find bits and pieces in everyone. He came with the idea, why don’t we look at our state’s journey. The political awakening that happened from 1975 to 2009.”
Mayasabha: Rise of the Titans is a combination of many historical events
Deva Katta further explained that the story draws from the political awakening of Andhra Pradesh from 1975 to 2009. It talks about historical events such as the rise of Naxalism and factional tension. It looks at all these aspects from a top-down, zoomed-out view. These real-world layers form a rich fictional narrative for the political drama which is inspired by real events rather than real people.
Mayasabha: Rise of the Titans takes its inspiration from the Mahabharata
Deva Katta compares Mayasabha to the Mahabharata because both explore themes of friendship, rivalry, family drama, and big ideological clashes. He says the story starts from the ground level, showing how everyday people can play a big role in shaping politics. He could be quoted as saying:
“Let us get into that world from those bottom eyes, like low-level eyes and then explore the characters to become shaping images of the political landscape. That was very exciting to me.”
Mayasabha: Rise of the Titans storyline revolves around two friends turned enemies
Mayasabha: Rise of the Titans is a nine-episode Telugu-language political drama co-written and co-directed by Deva Katta and Kiran Jay Kumar. It premiered on SonyLIV on August 7, 2025, and is also available in Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam. The series follows the journey of two friends from Andhra Pradesh who enter politics. One is from a rural, farming background and the other from a medical family; they both share a dream of public welfare, but eventually their friendship turns into a fierce rivalry.
What are your thoughts about Deva Katta’s statement about Mayasabha not being a biopic?
Also Read: ‘Mayasabha: Rise Of The Titans Review’, A Politically Charged Epic That Falls Short Of Greatness