Chennai, Dec 27 (IANS): National Award winning filmmaker Krish said he needs to thank his wife Ramya Velaga, who has been a pillar of support throughout the making of upcoming Telugu period drama "Gauthamiputra Satakarni".

Krish and Ramya got married earlier this year in August.

"Post marriage, I couldn't even stay with my wife for ten days. Even though I couldn't spend much time with her, I know I've made a film that will make her proud. I need to thank her for being in my life and I love her," Krish said at the audio launch of the film.

He said the film will also make his mother proud.

Talking about how the project materialised, he said: "It was from a test book for the Civil Services exam. I read about the story of 'Gauthamiputra Satakarni' for the first time. As I continued researching, I told a friend from Mumbai about the story and he was happy that I was making a film on someone very popular in Maharashtra."

A surprised Krish wondered how the story of Satakarni was popular in Maharashtra.

"I learnt from this friend that the story of Satakarni was popular during the regime of Chhatrapati Shivaji. Similarly, a Tamilian friend told me how popular Satakarni was in Tamil Nadu. When I gathered more information and started reading about his story, my blood boiled and I started visualising a face that will suit this story," he said.

The story chose Nandamuri Balakrishna, said Krish, and not the other way around.

"It took him (Balakrishna) just ten minutes to give his nod. When I told him we're planning to release the film for Sankranti festival next year, he said we will work towards it and finish the film on time," he added.

This project happens to be Balakrishna's 100th film. It also stars Shriya Saran, Hema Malini and Kabir Bedi.

"Gauthamiputra Satakarni" is the story of an unsung warrior from Satavahana dynasty.