Mental and physical prep for Salaar

My director (Prashanth Neel) wanted me to maintain a particular physique and we had some workshops for the aggressive scenes. During our free time, Prashanth and I used to experiment. I would ask him if a particular style was okay, and we jokingly called it the ‘lazy line’ for fun. For instance, in the coal mine scenes, he wanted me to portray lazy body language during some aggressive moments. Sometimes, I suggested changes for a sequence and Prashanth and I would discuss and collaborate on the approach. The director’s input, my experience and the character’s demands contributed to the body and performance. Both Prashanth and I enjoy action and I believe the action scenes turned out well.

Working with Prashanth Neel

When Prashanth expressed interest in doing a film with me, I got excited. All my friends, cousins and family were waiting for me to work with him. Prashanth Neel is supposed to be the most loving, intense and great commercial director, especially after KGF 1. We met informally once before, and after that, Hombale Films gave me a call. When I met Prashanth, I immediately loved him for the person he is. He’s such a beautiful person. For example, even if an assistant cameraman or someone on set suggests something, he credits the person for the idea in front of the entire team, which is very generous of him. I know many directors who accept suggestions, but Prashanth not only accepts them but also shares credit.

He is a genuinely kind and thoughtful person. Not only is he kindhearted but also very hardworking. Everyone on set wants to meet Prashanth, whether there’s a shoot or not. His approach to shot-making, editing and screenplay is extraordinary. I thoroughly enjoyed working with him, and I hope to collaborate with him again in the future.