Malayalam star Prithviraj Sukumaran will play the antagonist Kumbh in S.S.’s much-awaited action adventure. Rajamouli’s Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra. The actor recently spoke about his experience of working with the renowned director and spoke about Rajamouli’s approach to directing actors.According to Mid-day, Prithviraj revealed that the Baahubali and RRR director encourages actors to share their thoughts before shooting a scene. Instead of simply instructing performers on how he wants a scene to be played, Rajamouli first considers their point of view before offering his own interpretation.
Prithviraj Sukumaran on working with SS Rajamouli
Talking about his experience on the sets of Varanasi, Prithviraj said that Rajamouli starts by explaining the scene and asking the actor how he would approach it.“Rajamouli sir will say, ‘This is a stage. How do you want to do this? He will first ask me what I think and then I will give my point of view,” he said.The actor called the process collaborative, saying it allows for an open exchange of ideas between the director and his performers. According to Prithviraj, Rajamouli remains clear about his creative vision while being genuinely interested in understanding the actor’s interpretation.
SS Rajamouli calls for ‘healthy exchange of ideas’
Prithviraj said that the director’s approach creates an environment where actors can contribute their own ideas without losing sight of the director’s overall vision.“There is a healthy exchange of ideas. He is very clear about what he wants from the scene, but at the same time he is interested in what the actor is thinking,” he added.For Prithviraj, it provided a closer look at the filmmaking process of one of Indian cinema’s most celebrated directors, especially a project as ambitious in scale as Varanasi.
Prithviraj Sukumaran on trusting the director’s vision
While actors can bring their own interpretation to a scene, Prithviraj believes that ultimately the director should be trusted to shape the larger story.“You have to be willing to give in to the director’s vision. You can have your own ideas and point of view, but ultimately you have to trust the person making the film,” he said.
About “Varanasi” S.S. Rajamouli
Varanasi features Mahesh Babu as Rudra, Priyanka Chopra as Mandakini and Prithviraj Sukumaran as Kumbha. The time-traveling action-adventure film will hit the screens in Hyderabad in 2025 and is slated for a theatrical release on April 7, 2027. With Rajamouli in the lead and Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj Sukumaran in lead roles, Varanasi is one of the most awaited Indian films currently in production.