Once he knew I'm coming into the Hindi market he himself volunteered
and said no, we are there for you
no no, with Dabang I'm done as villain
Sir when I'm directing Salman Khan you should wait no?
You have to understand that these are the minds we are doing films now for
reviving theatres is totally in the hands of viewers also
Hi, guys this is Himesh and welcome to Pinkvilla
Today we have with us Sudeepa, who is all gearing up for the release of Vikrant Rona
Welcome to Pinkvilla Sir, it's lovely having you here
Thank you sir
Sir my first question to you is how and when did you come across the idea
of Vikrant Rona, it has been a long journey sir.
It had. So much before that, there was another film we were discussing and
there came a time when we just went blank
on the screenplay time not the script and story
so that's the time when we had taken a small one week off
I thought let's, I just told my director let's cut this discussion for a week
we are heading nowhere
And that is the time this popped up and you know
Priya called me, my wife called me and she said that
There's a script, she wanted to produce this film
on a smaller scale with newcomers
but then when she heard this film, she said
you might also like it just hear it out once
And I heard it and that's when it all started
And you know we have seen so many times like the example you gave
there's a film which actually comes to mind is Dabangg
When Dabangg 1 was being made it was actually a very small film but
when Salman sir came into picture they decided to make it larger than life
to justify his aura and presence, was that the case over here as well when you came onboard
Yeah it was meant to be a small film and that was the director's vision
to make it very realistic and in a probable jungle and things like that
and when I came in, I kind of
visualised this film as he was narrating it in a way it is right now probably
and my director was in the 90s, he wanted to play a position in the film in the 90s
and I was somewhere in the 60s
So we had a small debate about it for a couple of weeks and then
once he agreed upon this whole thing I think he went very in-depth and in detail
and the whole idea of this visuals of the jungle and this land
and everything he came out with and
Sir you have been in this industry for over 25 years as an actor?
26 26
Sir according to you how difficult it is for you to get a script
which does justice to your aura as well as at the same time
this concept is also not compromised on any front
so you can't have multiple layers here
where you can say that you know it suits my aura then this and that
and all that I think you should just look for scripts you know
and if something excites you i guess it just excites you
we can't really keep all this
buts and maybes and pros and cons and then sit across with a
already a load full of baggage baggage full of things saying
okay now I have to cater my scripts to these segments of people
these sector of people these friends these things of career
No, I think you just listen to the script the way it is and-
just be honest
In my opinion, maybe there are people who look forward to with such angles
I don't layer my thoughts
so yeah I just go straight
When did the idea of making this a multilingual project come in your mind?
At the beginning itself, as and when we heard the story
we sat across for the discussion and then
the producer, Jack and myself, we decided we'll do two languages
and then as in when the discussions went, we thought we'll just
shoot in one language and dub in all the languages because
that's because, the scale of the film is as such and it is progressing in that manner
it's a story need to be told in every language so that's how it all happened.
You know Salman Khan is presenting the film in Hindi belts
has he seen the assets of the film, has he seen the film?
how has he been reacting to this and how did this collaboration happen?
He has definitely seen the showreels which are almost about 18 and a half 19 minutes showreels
which he was thoroughly impressed with and
he has been after that linked with us
not that I will not give that itself the credit that
because he saw the footage see I share a bond with him also and
Have an equation with him also and not that I went asking for it
But once he knew I'm coming into the Hindi market,
he himself volunteered and said no we are there for you
see it was a very big thing to offer
now he didn't have to just jump he would have seen that 18 minutes and
he could have just let it be but I think you know that is where he comes from
he didn't become a part of this film, see he's a big star
he is earning money, left right and centre
he doesn't have to earn from us but then
him coming in the angle with that I am there for you we'll do
we'll do justice, we will do our best for your film Sudeepa
and I think that only is a huge thing for me and
that itself makes volumes of
difference
opinion about him about what he is
Basically, it's thinking from theheart and just going all out for friends
He believes something, he'll do it that's what he is
how do you perceive the state of the Indian film industry at this point in time after the pandemic
Fantastic
Okay because you know of course, films are working
Kannada film industry is one of those film industries which has actually
had a lot of successful films KGF or 777 Charlie also
which did very well but still people are saying that
there's a change in audience perspective in the post-pandemic times
which is reflecting in the box office collections also
so how do you view this all across, I'm not saying just Hindi, all across the industry
Things have changed.
And I think it's a very good time for the film industries because
what we used to earn in like five-six weeks we're earning it in like one, 3-4 days
So the revenues have increased and definitely there is a good time and
if you say you think people's opinions have changed I think sir
people are trying to after all this pandemic and impatience and
and somehow they've all managed to get back to their lives at least most of them
Now people don't waste money and don't want to waste time
more than anything
so they keep indirectly telling you please stick to the point
Don't drag your film because you can tell a story for 2 and a half hours
maybe that story deserves only one and a half hours
maybe this story deserves only this many minutes of screen time
tell us within that don't forcefully put a song
forcefully, it's a very impatient mindset which we have to
to which we are catering our films to
you know we have to understand that these are the minds we are doing films now for
so we better sit with not one scissor but imaginary 2-3 scissors and cut the film
and cut the film from all angle and just push it to this degree
to the point
to the point and just stand there come to the point straight and
stick to the point, any character any line, any song which is out of the the box
I think throw it out
that's what the content says today
in today's time especially on social media even you're there on Twitter
and all those other platforms rather than celebrating
this phenomenon as the Indian film industry, now it has all become versus
this versus that, how do you view this aspect
where people are comparing rather than collaborating
Let them compare it doesn't matter we are not comparing
collaboration is happening from our end comparisons are happening from 3rd parties
and 4th parties,
doesn't matter it doesn't work
it doesn't matter we are collaborating
All industries are happy in exchange of thoughts exchange of ideas
exchange of actors, directors, music directors
I think there are a lot of collaborations happening over there
collaborations of promotions when we come here some people come here
to promote with us when they come down we are there
to promote, their films for them I think it's a beautiful collaboration
opinions are coming from all different other angles that are not connected
to the fraternities at all, I think that's okay that's acceptable
I was speaking to Rakshit recently, during 777 Charlie and he said that
he wants to make the film that he was planning with you, Thugs of Malgudi I think so
It's an ambitious project have there been discussions with Rakshit on reviving
Rakshit's a very sweet boy and
he has these very cold fights with me which he doesn't express and I have mine too
See, I think I admire him as a writer
I admire him as an actor more After Charlie.
And, he has a great ambition of telling stories
and I think every time he talks about Thugs of Malgudi
I'm sure when he wants to do, he'll do but I keep telling people,
I keep bullying people and everybody said don't believe this guy
not because he doesn't want to do
as and when he's finishing one film or something else will excite him
and he'll run into that
which is fair, which is fair also, and that's okay you what I'm talking about so,
this Hindustan will happen when it has to happen
but if it happens then I think he has a brilliant idea
I just know a line of it that's it, but it's a brilliant idea what he has and
I'm sure when he does he'll do a great job out of it
And what's next for you after Vikrant Rona like,
what are the projects that you're looking at
Nothing sir, a lot of projects are happening and then I think
I'll go one at a time and I'll finish this film put it to the show
we are almost reaching the show today
luckily things have been
even though the pandemic, even though a lot of situations were there
Time has been kind and we were able to sail through every tide
so let us put the film on the shore first and then think about which restaurant to hit
And sir you've worked with SS Rajamouli sir in Eega which is
one of my personal favourite films, even SS Rajamouli sir has directed
one of my personal favourites, of yours as well
you did a small part in Bahubali 1
Are there any other discussions with him happening?
Do you keep discussing work or something
No I have not been in touch with him at all actually
After Eega we were in touch for some time but then you know
he is very busy and I am busy with my work and
we have not been in touch and
see we had a very beautiful director-actor relationship more than friends
So I will not say that we shared a friendly bond
we shared a very beautiful, director-actor bond which
there's a lot of respect for each other I think,
if there is something it will come my way, I don't have to discuss and all that
and he doesn't discuss much about all that he discusses only after the
when the film starts okay, so he discusses with his team and all that stuff
there's nothing much that we have discussed at all after eega
And sir, now we have some fan questions, for you which we've asked on Twitter
So I'll just pick some of the interesting ones
the first one is from Himanshu Mistri, why is it called Vikrant Rona?
Because it is Vikrant Rona, the character's name is Vikrant Rona
and there's no better name than Vikrant Rona right now,
Okay, the next one is from Prasanna, single screen shutting down in Karnataka
day by day as a hero of the film industry what's the reason for it
what precaution is the industry planning to revive theatres and increase the screen count?
Reviving theatres is totally in the hands of viewers also who need to come into theatres
and not just stick to the ott platforms
Though ott platforms are a very beautiful platforms and I totally agree
But reviving cannot happen with only one-hand clapping sir
One hand being the film industry, in this one hand I mean
our directors, actors, writers, producers
screenplay writers, investors ideas, industry, Telegu Tamil, all
There's one hand and there's one big hand which can clap together
this is the viewers okay
reviving the theatres is not in our hand sir people are still making films
there are still 70-80 films releasing from each industry every day
But what is happening? People are not coming to the theatres
and suddenly, don't say cinemas are not good
there are average cinemas every year but since ott is happening but since
people know that you know suddenly in 2-3 weeks it'll come
and already ott, we have another 100 films we've not seen,
so why go now? Unless this is a big movie or some movie
which has captured our attention
I think reviving can happen when everyone people like you
and everybody decide and discuss that you know
no, we need theatres that is when it can revive
So don't put the responsibility on the industry people
Okay that's interesting
The next one is from Ronit,
Is Vikrant Rona going to have a franchisee if the first part works?
He has the answer in his question if the first part works
So like the clapping story I'll come back again
so the franchise is not in one clap you clap with us
and the franchise may come again
it's not that I can prematurely discuss that there can be a part 1-2
and part 1 may not do well at all it is not like that
but there's a possibility?
Secondly, I'm not somebody to whom this
part 2 will excite because part 1 did well
I would like to move on with another film and not oscillate around the same thought
Unless a part 2 was decided much earlier even before the takeoff of the first part
If I know beforehand that this part2 was decided because of the script then okay
you know capitalising on the
the success of the first part if a franchise 2 comes if another franchise comes part 2
comes of the same thing, that may not exactly excite me because I don't think that
our intent remains the same right it's already changed
then it's to make money
Yeah so I don't think I'm gonna don that cap again for that kind of money
unless my director comes out and says you have no idea
there's another extraordinary thought I've called Vikrant Rona then yes maybe
on an excitement level yes
And the next one is from Harsh,
Sudeep sir last year in an interview said that he was planning to direct
Salman Khan in a film, what has happened to that?
So when I'm directing Salman khan you should wait right?
It just started last year wait for another few years
Before I tell him before he says yes and then I'll tell when he'll come to the set
So it is, with Salman Bhai it's gonna be like that
Basically something- he's so busy with so many people waiting for him
and everything, we keep discussing when it happens it will happen sir
Last couple of questions, this one is from Yashu
Will he ever work with Prabhas, if he ever gets a chance?
Why not? Do I look like we are enemies or something?
He's a very sweet guy, I've met him once
so I think yes if there's a good stuff for both of us
yes but not as a villain
okay not as a villain no no
with Dabbang I'm done as a villain I am done with it
So now you want to play a hero?
No I've always been the protagonist and I've always played good roles like that
and I don't mind playing the grey shade i don't mind
but I'm not an out and out, that was the only time in my entire life
I've been an out and out villain was this one
all right so I thnk I did it happily for Salman sir but otherwise I'm not that
So when you're talking about that getting an opportunity with working someone
I think if the role is good for both of us I think we should
This one is from Rahul Kumar, he's one of your die-hard fans
he says, when is he starting the movie with Mannadu director venkat prabhu
Ah Venkat is right now busy with something else, they are all sitting on the script
I think we should go on the floor something in October
okay so this year itself like
hopefully, that would be your next film basically
no I'm gonna be starting another one or two before that
okay this one is from, Kannadiga if i pronounced it right
What are the extra responsibilities that a hero should bear
when doing an ambitious high budget film which caters to the pan-India audience
versus the other comercial films which don't cater to the pan-Indian audience
Is it feasible to constantly do pan-Indian movies given that
the time money, and efforts involved in that are too high
Wow! Can we just explain that question in English to me again?
Basically, they mean that what are the extra efforts that a hero should bear?
That's all no?
Yeah while doing a pan-India film versus-
They went all over the place and came to the question
there's no extra effort, sir, how can you have extra efforts and
you know you're discriminating your own films here
you're saying this is a high-profile film, that's not a high-profile film
I think every film is the same
Correct, right now as and when I'm talking to you, I do not know the value of your cameras
So how should it matter?
As long as it is capturing us well, whether it is a mobile
whether it's a 7D 5D or whether it's another camera
It shouldn't matter
so how can I discriminate between all these things
and because if it's a high budget
our responsibility is that a director should be happy by the end of the day
that I did my role well and I went home
I think that's all it takes
it doesn't matter
And before we sign off last words on Vikrant Rona for all the fans
Vikrant Rona is a very dear film releasing on July 28th worldwide
Perfect Thank you so much sir lovely speaking to you and wish you all the best for the film
Thank you sir Thank you so much
Thank you
Hi this is Kiccha Sudeepa here and you're watching me on Pinkvilla