Having successfully wrapped up the production of Uppi2, which has had a decent run at the box office since its release, Priyanka Upendra is back at what she does best, acting. She is all set to start shooting for her next, Mummy - Save Me, a horror flick directed by Lohith H.
Though the film was launched on her birthday last year, it will be going on floors only from September 9. “I had signed Mummy...simultaneously with my other film, Priyanka, which is ready for release. For me, Mummy.. belongs to a completely different genre since I have been part of both commercial and serious films,” she says.
According to Priyanka, the makers of the film have created a huge set in Bengaluru, without compromising on grandeur. “A huge set has been built in line with international standards. It was required because the film has horror as the main quotient,” she reveals and adds that her role is quite significant since it is a woman-oriented film. “Though there are a lot of horror films in the making, Mummy... has ample scope for emotions too, so the opportunity to try new domains of acting is wide. I am seven months pregnant in the film and so all the concentration will be on performance and less on the physicality,” she elaborates.
The first look of the film will be released on Varamahalakshmi and the team will have an outdoor shoot for 10 days but the main shoot will be in Bengaluru and inside the set that has been created.Talking about working with Lohith who is just taking his first steps towards direction, Priyanka says, “I strongly believe that if a new talent is not given an opportunity by somebody who is established, then the talent could wither away. Everybody is new at some point.” The actress says that her confidence has surged as an actor after donning the producer’s cap in Uppi2.
Having learnt a lot more about the entire process involved in filmmaking, Priyanka says that after Uppi2, she understands the intricacies, which has only made her a better actress. “It was a huge responsibility with Uppi2. I had to make sure that the shoot went efficiently and everyone was comfortable. Acting pampers you and your concentration is only upon looking good and acting well. After my tryst with production, I realised that I was the guardian of the team,” she says.
And the actress went the extra mile for the film, choosing costumes for Kristina Akheeva as well as supervising the looks of Uppi.
“I even helped in the photo session and design. Since it was our home production, I made sure everything went smoothly. Finally, the results have been fruitful indeed,” she says and adds that the initial feeling of being the producer of a film directed by her husband in which, he also plays the lead was a bit strange. “As producer and director, we had to have a different understanding than that of a husband and wife. The trust factor was always there. And monetarily, he was not worried because I was in control,” she signs off.