Actor Sudeep. , Photo courtesy: Ravichandran N.
Kannada superstar Sudeep awaits the release of his upcoming film max, He is a relieved man. “I have deprived my fans for two and a half years,” he admits. Produced by Kalaipuli S Thanu and directed by debutant Vijay Karthikeya, the film will hit the screens on December 25, 2024.
After the big budget suspense thriller Vikrant crying (2022), Sudeep is back with a blockbuster action drama. he talks The Hindu Regarding the outing, opinions divided on the reasons behind the film’s delay Vikrant cry, Increasing discussions about box office numbers and other things.
Part:
Was shooting ‘Max’ so soon after the big budget ‘Vikrant Rona’ a good break for you?
I wanted to do a project that was a little different. I didn’t want to do a film that had a huge scale. I needed to get back into some of the films I always enjoyed doing. I am playing a very credible character in this max, And the film is quite realistic. That said, there are enough commercial elements for my fans to enjoy. When people see the film’s director Vijay Karthikeya, it will prove to be a surprise for them. Maximum. I like working with new people.
There was confusion regarding the release of ‘Max’. There was talk that the film will not release in 2024…
If I was the reason for the delay of the film, I would have replied. The last name associated with the whole fiasco was mine. Those involved in creating this confusion never gave proper clarity to the people. They appeared and disappeared on social media without any concrete solution. Naturally, people were shocked. Lastly, I thank veteran producer Rockline Venkatesh for calming the situation. Today, if the film is ready for release, he is one of the major reasons. I have friends in the industry who stand by me in my difficult times.
With the advent of technology and constant requests for updates from fans on social media, are superstars feeling the need to complete projects quickly?
It depends on what the actor believes in. After a long time in the industry, you feel like choosing only exciting projects. In my case, later vikrant cryNo other projects were ready to start due to COVID-related challenges. To make matters worse, I contracted Covid twice. It took away about a year and a half from me. Due to medicines I had less energy. I couldn’t lift weights. You look different when you don’t exercise. So, I had to get back in shape. At the end, maximum Went on the floor. maximum It was supposed to be released in theaters long ago. We also released a teaser with the caption, ‘Soon, soon and as soon as possible.’ I didn’t know it meant December (laughs). Unfortunately, the film was delayed due to various reasons.
Actor Sudeep in ‘Max’. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
These days, a lot of emphasis is being placed on box office numbers. ‘Vikrant Rona’ was talked about for its box office collection rather than its technical excellence
We should move with time. What’s wrong with films aiming for big numbers? How else do you measure growth? If a person can change jobs because of a better designation or a bigger salary, then why don’t filmmakers want to do a large number of films? Of course, the technical and creative aspects of a film should be discussed. That said, it’s also common for people to talk about numbers outside of film. People are never satisfied. They may also feel that Jurassic Park or Titanic could have performed better at the box office. When they use the word ‘better’, it also means that they liked the movie. I see the positive side of this whole debate. We must work hard for more and achieve a figure at the box office. The bigger the number, the bigger the success of the film. Ambani, the richest man in the company, still works for numbers. If you’re good at something why do it for free?
Was there a mistake in the positioning of ‘Vikrant Rona’? This movie is a solid movie, but it was marketed as a superhero movie…
I agree with you. They (the marketing team) were a little ambitious and made a mistake. I kept telling him that the hero should not be presented as a superhero. At best, compared with Indiana Jones Voting rights would have meaning. Since the character was portrayed as a superhero, people made various assumptions about the film. when i talk max, I have to be honest and say that this is just a story of what happens one night. I don’t want to create unnecessary expectations among fans by saying things that are not true. If you don’t prepare your audience for the movie you are in trouble. However, it was a learning experience for the marketing team. No film is perfect.
Sudeep in a dance sequence from ‘Max’. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
After ‘Vikrant Rona’, you are working with Anup again for ‘Billa Ranga Basha’. How has he evolved as a filmmaker?
Billa Ranga Basha is ten times bigger than Vikrant crying. This film was supposed to be made earlier Vikrant crying. But I wanted to make the film right. We had everything available. The script was locked and investors were ready. However, I wasn’t sure if we would be able to accomplish it. I don’t care if my film flops, but if people laugh at your film, that’s the day you die. I wanted to know if we could create a world like this Badge painted basha. So I asked Anup if we could make a film for the test, and that’s it vikrant cry happened. Anup created an imaginary village and created a tropical rainforest. visually, vikrant cry One of the best Kannada films ever. The film looked great in 3D. The film also told Anoop about the expectations of my fans. He learns fast.
Also read:Everything changed in 24 hours: Sudeep on mother’s death
You take breaks to indulge in cricket and other activities you love. When fans see you moving away from films, they feel insecure…
We deal with expectations every day. Even if the audience has expectations from you, they still consider you very important. The day they don’t want anything from you, your career ends. Therefore, it is a big thing to live up to the expectations of the fans. On the other hand, to maintain interest in the things you love, you must sometimes step away from them. Your human body can do many things, but it needs sleep every night. Imagine working continuously without sleeping. Your body will collapse. Similarly, artists also need breaks. In 28 years in the film industry, I have done only 46 films. I take long breaks. Filmmaking is a creative process and there are days when you go blank. This is not a race where I keep track of what others are doing. It’s all about what works for you. Some actors have 2-3 films released in a year. I can’t work like this
published – December 17, 2024 12:47 PM IST
