It is perhaps evidence of the mysterious ways in which our films work that a person who can barely string a few sentences together in Hindi has delivered two of Bollywood’s biggest hits in recent times. Prabhudheva, who has always been considered a dancer who could act a little, may have finally found his calling in direction. After the critic-resistant success of Wanted and Rowdy Rathore , Prabhudheva is offering two films this year to filmgoers. The first of these, Ramaiya Vastavaiya, releases this Friday.
A launch vehicle for Girish Kumar, whose father Kumar Taurani is the producer of the film, it tells the story of Ram and Sona, played by Girish and Shruti Haasan respectively.
While the former is an NRI (and therefore “naughty, ill-mannered and a conman” according to the character) the latter is a thoroughbred village girl. They must overcome this crucial difference, and other factors that stand in the way of their love.
“If you see my films they are all Indian. Whatever I have done till now happens in village,” says Prabhudheva. Additionally, the film stars Sonu Sood, Randhir Kapoor, Poonam Dhillon and Vinod Khanna. The director spoke at a promotional event in the Capital recently.
On the shift from action movies to a love story
I started my career with this film only; my directorial debut was Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana . So this film is very close to my heart. I don’t know how I became an action filmmaker. I believe romance is my genre, because romance is very important for a choreographer.
On the process of remaking his film
I can’t compare, when I was doing the film I wasn’t looking at what I did then. But after having finished it, I knew that the emotion is the same. Whenever I select a film, I must feel emotionally connected. In India, emotion is very important.
On directing the newcomer Girish Kumar, after working with stars like Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar
I had to be patient with him because his father is the producer of the film. Of course it was different but he is a hardworking kid. I let him dance for a year, so that he could open up…there are some negatives too but you will find out after you watch the film.
On dance
Among the roles of acting, direction and dancing, I cherish dancing the most. I don’t know anything about Hip-Hop Salsa or Jazz. I know my dance, that’s it. Nowadays, there are all these reality shows on TV which are doing amazing work. It gives opportunities that didn’t exist earlier for choreographers and young talents. Taurani’s take
