As a director, Prabhu Deva burst into Bollywood with the Salman Khan blockbuster Wanted, following it up with hits like Rowdy Rathore and R… Rajkumar. In Singh Is Bliing, the Muqabla man reunites with his Rowdy Rathore hero Akshay Kumar for a masala film shot across the globe. t2 caught up with the prabhu and deva of dance in Mumbai recently.
Singh Is Bliing has a very distinct Punjabi flavour. How did you manage that?
It’s the job of a filmmaker to be receptive to different cultures and languages and customs and to be able to incorporate them into his films. Yes, it’s true that I had very little understanding and knowledge of Punjabi culture and customs before this film, but I also did make Rowdy Rathore before this, so I wasn’t really getting into completely unknown territory. Of course, Akshay Sir is a true-blue Punjabi and he knew what he had to do — from the lingo to the larger-than-life walk and talk of Punjabis. Akshay Sir and I have a great rapport and that started on the sets of Rowdy Rathore. So now he knows what I am comfortable with and what I am not.
Making this film was a superb experience. The amount I travelled for this film, I probably haven’t for any other… right from Patiala to Goa to South Africa and Romania. It’s a fun film… it doesn’t deal with a heavy subject and that was the kind of atmosphere we had on set as well.
But you apparently had a lot of problems shooting in Romania…
Oh god, yes! It wasn’t because of any logistical issues, though. After the terrible heat in Punjab, we went to Romania expecting that we would get some comfortable weather there. But even at 5pm, it was 44 degrees! We had a particular location in mind and we had to go to Romania for that. But it was crazy there. The sun would be out at 5am and set only at 10pm. It was very tough for my fighters and my actors. And we shot in Goa in May… so you know how it would have been (smiles).
What was it like on set when the lion broke loose in South Africa?
I ran away! (Laughs) That’s the riskiest thing I have done for any film. We had to shoot according to the mood of the lion. My superstar on set wasn’t Akshay Sir… it was the lion! (Laughs) I was so scared for Akshay Sir because he was this close to the lion (gestures with his hands). I was standing a kilometre away with my cameraman (laughs). We had to maintain complete silence on set and have minimum people around. The lion was very dangerous… Akshay Sir was very careful because he could have got injured or even killed.... I have decided I will never take such risks again (smiles).
Why did you replace Kriti Sanon with Amy Jackson?
There were some issues, some from her end and some from ours (smiles). Anyway, we have mutually decided to work together later. But I am happy we went with Amy because she’s so good in the action scenes. The heroine, Sara, has to do a lot of action — sometimes even more than the hero -—and Amy is very confident and uninhibited. You know, these foreign girls have a natural confidence that I sometimes find missing in our heroines here, no offence meant.
You have made romantic and action films so far. When will we see Prabhu Deva direct a dance film?
Dance film, huh? (Smiles) Remo (D’Souza, the man behind the ABCD films) is there, na? (Laughs) I am very happy just acting in ABCD. However, I am so glad that ABCD 2 has done so well (it earned Rs 100-crore plus) because that shows there is a market for dance films in India. Also, I feel that Remo made the film so well… I am not sure whether I can do that. Just because I can dance doesn’t mean I can direct a dance film (smiles). I don’t know how to match Remo’s standards. It’s a tough thing.
Actor/choreographer/director, which role does Prabhu Deva like best?
Choreography, any day. I was born to dance (smiles).
Priyanka Roy
Who is the best dancer in Bollywood?
Tell t2@abp.in
