Prem as a director has done only a handful of films, but he is known to put the effort one puts for two films into one. Having started his directorial career with Kariya, which became a runaway hit, he followed it up with a few films among which Jogi became a blockbuster hit. His efforts and success continued with Joggayya and Raj The Showman.
The director, who is known for directing high-budget films in Kannada, the latest being The Villain with CR Monohar, is also the highest-paid in Sandalwood.His next is a Darshan-starrer, in which he is working with Hebbuli producer Umapathy, who tells City Express that the project will go on floors in 2018 and that the script is being worked on as of now. The young producer in Sandalwood, all of 30 years was keen to rope in director Prem, is paying the director an eight-figure remuneration.
According to Gandhinagar, this makes Prem the highest-paid director in Kannada industry and Umapathy agrees. “His pay packet for my film, starring Darshan, is` 2 crore,” says the producer, adding that he is a producer’s director. “He makes sure the investments are safe. End of the day, we all look for good scripts and look to make good business out of our investment. Prem is multi-talented as writer, screenplay writer, lyricist and dialogue writer, and his film have a grandeur, an interesting star cast and is well branded. He makes sure that he is worth every penny”.
Umapathy says that he will share more details about when the project will go on floors once he gets a clear picture after discussing with the actor and director. The producer sounds excited about the project, and says, “Darshan and Prem coming together after 15 years has already created a buzz, and Prem’s unique subject for the star will only generate further interest”.