Exclusive: Prabhudheva apprehensive, thought how story of Mercury will be narrated

Mumbai: For the first time, director-actor Prabhudheva featured in ‘Sapnay’ alongside Arvind Swami and Kajol. Undeniably, this film went on to bag four National Awards among which Prabhu also bagged National award for the best choreographer in the song ‘Vennilave’.

When asked the actor about the reaction of his father and gurus, he said, “My father reacted very normally. He did not praise me at all. One of my Gurus told me specifically that since now I have won the National Award, don’t let success go into my head. ‘Sapnay’ was a dubbed film and the songs were remade. I can only say with the success of this film at the box office, it made all of us popular.”

The actor-director feels he has just begun his journey. “I have not learnt anything until now. I have to learn so much as I feel my journey has just started. I always think of going ahead with a wonderful journey which will go on until 20 years more. Every day is a learning process for me which I have to accomplish ahead for those 20 years to come,” he said.

Adding a little with a smile, he says, “In every profession, be it journalism or politics, when you are riding high on success, the approach of people around you changes. Undoubtedly, when your films aren’t working then these people will start ignoring you. Thus, I would say as an actor and a director, I have put in my best and will try to give the best. I know that a producer is also a normal man who manages to produce a film, so as a director I always try to make films that will fetch him his money back.”

On handling ups and downs, Prabhu very gently says, “What can one do if work does not bring appreciation? I feel very happy when my films do well at the box office and when the film flops I only decide to move ahead. I know these same people who praised me while my films were successful, are abusing me during the flop. My only strength is to work and see what next.”

Prabhu feels not only the show business have double standards but every common man has double standards. “In every profession we have to move ahead with the kind of environment we are dealing in. No common man too would like to talk against the platform he is working for. It is in the nature of every homosapien to keep away from disclosing his/her secrets. We all are the same in real as we try to avoid saying anything that may create some problems for us in life. It is always better to have a positive approach and go ahead,” actor said.

On directing ‘Dabangg 3’, he says, “We are in our pre-production work. I don’t know how much I can speak about this film, but I feel as they are putting their money so I have to be loyal to them. Let the producers speak about the film more.”

Recalling his first film ‘Wanted’ as a director with Salman Khan, he added, “I am no one to rejuvenate anyone’s career. In fact Boney Kapoor sir trusted in a first time director and invested money for this film. Also, Salman Khan just accepted me as the director. In those days, that kind of film was very new. Boney sir readily agreed to experiment with me as a new director.”

On working with director Karthik Subbaraj, the actor-director-choreographer says, “He has done some wonderful work. While he narrated the script, I instantly liked the content and my character as well. However, I too had so many questions in mind like how will he narrate the story on screen but I am a director’s actor. I just do my job and get out. Like, as a director I am a producer’s director.”

Ask him what he enjoys more, acting or directing, and he responds, “I am enjoying both. As an actor I am very cool but as a director my ‘Mercury’ levels rise up tremendously I get angry very soon.”