Fresh off the success of Singh is bling, Prabhu Deva talks about his philosophy of living in the moment rather than planning for the future, what’s on the anvil in terms of movie projects and more
Prabhu Deva spends most of his time in Mumbai discussing movie projects with various production houses. The director is reportedly signed up with at least four prominent names — Sriram Raghavan, Sanjay Dutt, Mubina Rattonsey and Ekta Kapoor — and will soon start to direct movies for them. Ask him about the project he is taking up next and Prabhu flashes his shy smile and says, “The talks are still on and we are listening to scripts. It is a process that takes time, as you have to sit and discuss the movie. But once we start, we will finish it quickly. I have met Sanjay Dutt once and he has given me complete freedom.”
The director is fresh off the success of Singh is Bling — which has given Akshay Kumar the biggest opening of his movie career. Doesn’t he plan his movies or the subjects he wants to do? “I have never planned (the future) and that’s not how I function,” Prabhu tells us. “I live in today and take it slowly.” Well, does he at least foresee another collaboration with Akshay? “Let’s see, Akshay has to decide,” says Prabhu, flashing another smile.
The director is all praise for Akshay and says that there’s an ease in working with the star. “With Akshay, it is a very smooth ride and he makes you feel very comfortable and ensures things are easy around you. He is a very positive person, never thinks negative and when he comes on the set, everyone is happy,” Prabhu shares.
And what about making movies down South? The subject is one that gets the so-far-reserved Prabhu to start talking animatedly. He tells us that producing films in the South I very much on the anvil. “I am producing three movies and the process has just started. I want to do these three movies correctly... Except for one film, the other two will have new directors and actors. I want to develop women-oriented films, because in most of the films, 70 per cent of the focus is on heroes and the rest on the heroine. But I want to find a new path and not necessarily keep it action-heavy,” Prabhu reveals.
Having worked with actors on films in both the Hindi and South film industries, what does Prabhu find are the main differences between them? “I have done Tamil, Telugu and Hindi movies and each actor that I’ve worked with, is different from the other. They have different working styles — but that is fine. And nowadays everything is well organised — both in the South and here in Mumbai,” he says.
This year, S.S, Rajamouli’s Baahubali smashed all box office records and turned out to be among the most appreciated films for its VFX. Prabhu too is all praise for Baahubali, but has it inspired him to explore the VFX technology in the films he makes as well? “I would like to do all kind of movies, but it all depends on the producer,” Prabhu points out. “The director, the actor and the producer must like it and they must be clear about it. Ultimately they should be happy and work whole heartedly.”
