Rogue looks like a slick actioner about obsessive love. How do you see the film compared to all the films you directed so far?
Almost all my films had a unique love story. Rogue is one of its kind. It’s different and suited for the contemporary times. I don’t want to reveal the story but I assure you that it’s a pure and tender love story. Action sequences are integral to the narrative.
The trailer begins with the line I Hate Girls and then proceeds to show the hero romancing her rather roughly. In one shot he even grabs her behind. Is this film misogynist?
The protagonist of the film is an intense, romantic guy, who does everything with great passion. You are saying “romancing roughly” but the romance is actually intense. As I said earlier, its a different love story. He is not a misogynist. You will know once you watch the film.
What made you select a complete newcomer like Ishaan? How confident are you of his stardom?
Ishaan is a highly talented and dedicated artiste. Nowhere in the film will you feel he is a newcomer. He is passionate and highly motivated. His dedication and hard work along with talent will take him to new heights soon.
Do you think the Telugu film industry needs new talent?
Not only the Telugu film industry, every industry needs to encourag fresh talent. It is a continuous process. We were all newcomers once. It’s like an evolution in the world of cinema.
You recently sacked your entire team and replaced it with a new team.How did that affect your work in Rogue?
My new team is wonderful and highly motivated. We had a smooth sail during the shooting as I narrate the story to the whole team beforehand so that everyone is on same page.
You are now directing actor Balakrishna. What kind of project is this?
It is an out and out mass action entertainer catering to all sections of the audience. The script came out very good and I am sure this is going to be a feast for all of Balakrishna sir’s fans as well as cinema lovers.
How different is working with a newcomer like Ishaan when compared to seasoned actors like Balakrishna and Mahesh Babu?
I never considered Ishaan a newcomer. He is very talented and worked like an experienced artiste. It was an easy process for me. Moreover, once we have a clarity of thought and know exactly what we have to extract from artistes, everything falls into place. In addition, I am very open-minded and always ready to take inputs from my cast and crew.
