Lucifer producer was advised against investing Rs 30 cr in Prithviraj’s directorial debut: ‘Switched location from Dubai to Russia at the last minute’

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However, he said, the unwavering trust Mohanlal and Antony placed in him served as a powerful source of motivation for Prithviraj. “Throughout the making of Lucifer, I haven’t had a single moment where I was doubted by my producer or my lead actor,” he said, emphasising that they fully supported his creative vision without hesitation.

Recalling an instance that demonstrated their confidence in him, Prithviraj said that when a key scene’s location had to be changed at the last minute, both Antony and Mohanlal followed his decision without questioning it. “I was supposed to shoot the tail-end of Lucifer at a private charter terminal in Dubai near Jebel Ali. It’s beautiful with about 100 plus aircraft and amazing top-of-the-line private jets parked there, belonging to oligarchs and all. It’s amazingly cool to look at. Although I obtained the permission to shoot there, unfortunately, at the last moment, the script got rejected by the Dubai Film Commission,” he added.

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Since the release date had already been announced, Prithviraj had to find an alternative immediately. “It was a friend of mine who suggested Saint Petersburg in Russia. He had a friend in the consulate there. So, I just told Mohanlal and Antony, ‘I’m leaving for Russia. I’ll go there and in 48 hours, I’ll give you a call. If I say come, just get on a flight and come.’ Former Kerala Education Minister MA Baby helped us obtain the visas on an emergency basis. I got mine in 24 hours and the rest of the team in 48 hours,” he mentioned.

Speaking further about Antony’s faith in him, Prithviraj added, “He simply gave me a credit card for the expenses. I went there and in two days, I called Mohanlal sir asking him to come over. That’s the kind of trust they had in me which is priceless for a filmmaker.”

The trio’s next venture, L2: Empuraan — the second instalment in the planned trilogy that began with Lucifer — is set to hit theatres on March 27.