Prithviraj Sukumaran on Salaar, and beyond: We should be grateful to SS Rajamouli and Prashanth Neel

The Pan-Indian movement, and inter-industry collaborations… haven’t all these happened before, why is it seen as a new-found phenomenon now?

When you say it has all happened before, I think you are overstating it because it has never happened the way it is happening right now. It finally took all the OTT platforms and people getting access to all regional content across the nation for us to travel in a direction, in which we should have been going all this while. As much as we make films in different languages for different sets of audiences, at some point we should have amalgamated and become one big industry, which is when we will truly manifest our true might. Right now, you are talking to me on Salaar. Yes, the film is essentially shot in Telugu. You could say that the principal direction and cinematography were in Telugu, but really what language film is Salaar? In Kerala, it is like a Malayalam film. In Tamil Nadu, it’s like a Tamil film. In Hindi, a Hindi film. It truly is an Indian film, which is great. Ideally, this is what we should be aiming for. I don’t mean that regional cinema should lose its identity. It never should. But this is the direction we should be traveling… to become one Indian cinema. I am happy that it is happening. We should all be grateful to SS Rajamouli sir and the Baahubali franchise for showing us the path. And of course, Prashanth Neel (for KGF).

Other than upscaling the budget and scope, what did Baahubali and KGF do to South film industries that are not obvious to an outsider?

Even in Kerala, essentially a small industry in terms of theatres, when we think of a big film, we are no longer limited in our thoughts. I am not talking about budget; money is just one part of it. Even when you think of context, subject, and the way of narrative… we are not limited to thinking ‘Oh, this is a Malayalam film that we are doing’. Even if it is a Malayalam film, we think in terms of presenting it to a larger audience. For instance, Kantara. It is very much rooted in Kannadiga culture but resonated with everyone across the country. So, our thought process was liberated. Producers are confident while investing; actors have more conviction. I am an actor, producer, and director… and this has liberated the way I think. We are not constrained to one industry like we were 10 to 15 years before. 

You are on top of your game in terms of both acting and directing films. You have already forayed into Bollywood. So, what’s the reason behind choosing Salaar, a multi-starrer, at this point in your career?

I liked the script. I am not sitting here and thinking, ‘Okay, I have done a Malayalam film, I have done a Tamil film and a Hindi film. So, let me do a Telugu film. No, it’s not how it goes. The next film I do will be the next good script I hear. It could be in any language. I did Salaar because I liked the script and my character. It is not like it doesn’t matter that the film is directed by Prashanth Neel, starring Prabhas and produced by Hombale Films. Of course, it matters but it’s not the primary reason for choosing the film.

The only comparison I can draw to your current status in the industry is to Kamal Haasan when he directed films like Virumandi… because you are successful as a director and actor now

(Interrupts) You should be put in jail for saying that. I am a die-hard fan of his and I take offence. Just because I act, direct, produce, and sing, I cannot be compared with Kamal Haasan because he was not just about doing multiple things. Those kinds of people happen once in a generation. Kamal sir is a journey we all are on, and he happens to be a destination way too far for anyone. There’s no explanation for somebody being that talented. I don’t think someone like him can be manufactured. There are all these sayings like ‘you aim for the stars’ and all that, but you don’t aim for Kamal Haasan. 

What gives you high now?

I need to have fun. My destination is not a film set where I can’t have fun. My nightmare is to be stuck in a film set where I am not enjoying it. And I have had such experiences before. Now, I have been part of enough films to know what matters.