Allu Arjun’s DJ is set for a massive release tomorrow. On this occasion, we caught up with the film’s director Harish Shankar for a detailed interview. Let’s see what he has to say.
Why did you showcase a stylish star like Bunny a Brahmin’s role?
Firstly, don’t you think Brahmin’s are also very stylish. After seeing a lot of small disturbances in the society, I was frustrated a lot but could not do anything and wrote Bunny’s role keeping his image in mind.
Is Allu Arjun playing a double role in the film?
That is a top secret and you need to watch the film to find out. The way we have showcased Bunny’s role will be quite surprising and he has never done a character like this earlier which makes things even more interesting. Bunny will look his stylish best and the way he has worked on the Brahmin character will leave everyone in splits.
About the controversy surrounding Asmaika song lyrics?
A section of the Brahmin community was quite offended and I made them understand the actual meaning behind the lyrics. As some of them were not satisfied, I respected their feelings and changed their lyrics. No one puts up stuff intentionally to hurt anyone and one must understand that before going legal.
Too much is said about the climax. Tell us about that?
For the first time, I decided to have a unique climax rather than the regular fights featuring villain gang. The ending will have a lot of thrill which will be showcased in a hilarious manner.
Similarities with Gentleman and Adhurs?
I like to clear one thing that there are so many films where hero plays a cop or an NRI and that does not mean we stop making films. Similarly, as there are very few films made on Brahmin characters, they stand out and get noticed easily. DJ is nowhere close to those films and is an entertainer with a lot of emotion.
What do you have to say about the negative publicity for DJ?
Social media is like a sword which has two ends. With one end we get superb publicity and the reach is huge. But at the same time, there is also a scope where one can slam the film with just one tweet and it is showcased worldwide. Things written by youngsters or anti-fans on social media need to go down as there is no fun in it anymore.
How do you handle criticism?
I am very open to criticism and don’t mind taking flak if my films do not work. At the same time, I feel that criticism should be constructive and stay within the limitations of my film.
Future projects?
I am planning to direct a concept based film for Dil Raju garu. It will be in his school of making and will not have any violence other artificial commercial elements.
When will you work with Pawan and Chiru?
It has been four months since I met Pawan Kalyan. I always have a script ready for him and whenever he has time, I will narrate it to him. Coming to Chiranjeevi garu, I want to do a film like Donga Mogudu and Rowdy Alludu which I will surely make one day.
Finally, how do you manage relationships in Tollywood?
With all my experience in the industry, I can only say that everyone in the industry is only after success. The more successful you are, more people will approach you for films. There is no place for relationships here.