Sudeep interview: I am back to my vintage best in ‘Max’
Sudeep talks to The Hindu about filming action scenes for the movie, the reasons behind confusions about the film’s release and more.
| Video Credit:
The Hindu
Actor Sudeep.
| Photo Credit:
Ravichandran N.
Kannada superstar Sudeep, awaiting the release of his upcoming movie Max, is a relieved man. “I have deprived my fans for two-and-a-half years,” he admits. The movie, produced by Kalaipuli S Thanu and directed by debutant Vijay Kartikeyaa, hits the screens on December 25, 2024.
After the big-budget suspense thriller Vikrant Rone (2022), Sudeep is back with an out-and-out action drama. He talks to The Hindu about the outing, the reasons behind the film’s delay, the divided opinions on Vikrant Rona, the increasing discussions about box office numbers, and more.
Excerpts:
Was filming ‘Max’ a nice break for you right after the big-budget ‘Vikrant Rona’?
I wanted to do a project that’s a bit off-beat. I didn’t want to do a film that was huge in scale. I needed to come back to certain movies that I always enjoyed doing. I play a very believable character in Max, and the film is quite realistic. That said, there are enough commercial elements for my fans to enjoy. Vijay Kartikeyaa, the movie’s director, will turn out to be a surprise for people when they watch Max. I love to work with newcomers.
There was confusion regarding the release of ‘Max’. There were talks that the film wouldn’t release in 2024…
I would have responded if I were the reason for the film’s delay. The last name that was associated with the entire fiasco was mine. Those involved in creating this confusion never gave proper clarity to people. They appeared and disappeared on social media without a concrete solution. Naturally, people were left puzzled. Finally, I thank veteran producer Rockline Venkatesh for cooling down the situation. Today, if the movie is ready for release, he is one of the prime reasons. I have friends in the industry who stand by me during my tough times.
With the advent of technology and the constant requests for updates from fans on social media, are superstars feeling the heat of finishing projects quickly?
It depends on what the actor believes in. After a long time in the industry, you feel like choosing only exciting projects. In my case, after Vikrant Rona, no other project was ready to go on floors because of COVID-related challenges. To make matters worse, I got hit by Covid twice. It almost took away one-and-a-half years from me. Because of the medicines, I had less energy. I couldn’t lift weights. When you don’t exercise, you tend to look differently. So, I had to get back in shape. Finally, Max went on floors. Max was supposed to hit the theatres much before. We even released a teaser with a caption that said, ‘Soon, sooner and soonest.’ I didn’t know it meant December (laughs). Unfortunately, the film got delayed for various reasons.
Actor Sudeep in ‘Max’.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
There is a lot of emphasis on box office numbers these days. ‘Vikrant Rona’ was discussed for its box office collections rather than its technical excellence
We should go with the times. What is wrong with movies aiming for big numbers? How do you measure growth otherwise? If a person can switch jobs because of a better designation or a hefty paycheck, why can’t filmmakers wish to do big numbers? Technical and creative aspects of a movie should be discussed, of course. That said, it’s also common for people to speak about numbers outside of the film. People are never satisfied. They might even feel Jurassic Park or Titanic could have done better at the box office. When they use the word ‘better’, it also means they liked the movie. I see the positive side of this entire debate. We must strive hard for more and hit a figure at the box office. The bigger the number, the bigger the success of the movie. The richest in the company, the Ambanis, still work for numbers. If you are good at something, why do it for free?
Was there a mistake in the positioning of ‘Vikrant Rona’? The movie is a solid whodunnit, but it was marketed as a superhero film…
I agree with you. They (the marketing team) were a little ambitious and got it wrong. I kept telling them the protagonist shouldn’t be projected as a superhero. At best, a comparison with the Indiana Jones franchise would have made sense. Since the character was portrayed as a superhero, people assumed a lot of things about the movie. When I talk about Max, I have to be honest and say it’s just a story about what happens one night. I don’t want to build unnecessary expectations among fans by telling things that are not true. You are in trouble if you don’t prepare your audience for the movie. However, it was a learning experience for the marketing team. No movie is perfect.
Sudeep in a dance sequence from ‘Max’.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
After ‘Vikrant Rona’, you are collaborating with Anup again for ‘Billa Ranga Baasha’. How has he evolved as a filmmaker?
Billa Ranga Baasha is ten times bigger than Vikrant Rona. The film was supposed to happen before Vikrant Rona. But I wanted to get the movie right. We had everything at our disposal. The script was locked, and the investors were ready. However, I wasn’t sure if we could pull it off. I don’t mind if my film flops, but if people laugh at your movie, that’s the day you die. I wanted to find out if we can create the world of Billa Ranga Baasha. So I asked Anup if we could do a movie for trial, and that’s how Vikrant Rona happened. Anup built a fictional village and created a tropical rainforest. Visually, Vikrant Rona is one of the finest Kannada films ever. The film looked fantastic in 3D. The film also gave Anup an idea about the expectations of my fans. He is a fast learner.
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You take breaks to associate yourself with cricket and other activities you love. Fans feel insecure when they see you move away from films…
We deal with expectations daily. If audiences expect things from you, they still consider you very important. The day they don’t want anything from you, that’s the day your career is finished. So it’s a high to meet the expectations of the fans. On the flip side, to sustain interest in things you love, you must stay away from them sometimes. Your human body can do many things, but it needs sleep every night. Imagine working nonstop without sleeping. Your body will collapse. Similarly, artists do need breaks. In 28 years in the film industry, I have done only 46 films. I do take long breaks. Filmmaking is a creative process, and there are days when you go blank. It’s not a race where I keep track of what others are doing. It’s all about what works for you. Some actors have 2-3 releases a year. I can’t operate like that.
Published – December 17, 2024 12:47 pm IST