After Simple Agi Ondh Love Story, Ulidavaru Kandanthe and Vaastu Prakaara, director and actor Rakshit Shetty has shown that he puts in much thought when it comes to filmmaking and acting, treating each script as a science and paying attention to all the nitty-gritties.
His upcoming film as an actor, Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu, demonstrates that he has mastered the science as well as the art of picking the right script. Apparently, when director Hemanth M Rao approached the actor, Rakshit was overjoyed, but he could not accommodate dates for it then.
“But by the time Hemanth released the trailer of the film, I had some clarity about my films and I was even more confident with the way he had approached the script. That’s how Godhi Banna... happened to me,” he says and adds that another reason for choosing Hemanth’s film was because he felt the subject had the potential to bring back the family audiences, a diminishing crowd at the theatres.
“I intend to cater to a newer audience, and with each film I try to get back those people who had stopped watching Kannada movies. Godhi Banna... will be one such film because it talks about family relationships. Having balanced my kitty with commercial films catering to the new generation, I feel this is one attempt which will be appreciated by a wider audience,” he says.
Rakshit plays the role of the son of Anant Nag’s character who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and goes missing. According to him, there were plenty of emotions involved and he could personally connect with the role. “Usually, sons are very open about feelings towards mothers. With dads, there is often a little reserve. It is very much the case with me too. I never tell my father how much I love him,” says Rakshit, who is now dedicating the film to his dad. “If I can’t tell him directly, I want to express my feelings towards him through the film,” he adds.
The actor asserts that Godhi Banna...will not be complete without talking about Anant Nag, with whom he is working again after Vaastu Prakara. “I share a lot of screen space with him and like every present actor, I have looked up to him as a child. Working with him, at times, I used to get tense. Normally, if I am not happy with my shot, I request the director for another take but when you are with Anant Nag, you can’t commit mistakes because you can’t expect a senior actor to do retakes again with us,” he notes and does not hide his amazement at the senior actor’s memory. “He remembers the dialogues of a film which he had done 20 years ago,” he states.
The actor is glad with the way his career has been shaping up. “Twenty years down the line, when I look back to see my work, I should be proud of it. I have and will always try to maintain it,” he says.
Helping in the Search
According to Rakshit, after the buzz about the film revolving around a missing person went around, a few from the public started seeking help from him. “There were a few who shared details about a missing person in their family and requested me to help and share it on my Facebook page. I did post them on social media but people mistook me thinking that it was for publicity of the film, which was not the case. I would love to help them because I understand what they go through. I know about the problem after doing a film like Godhi Banna... Though I can’t help during the release, I hope to help them later,” he says.