Estimating the intelligence of JD Chakravarthy does not reveal much just by going through the films that he has acted, but when one goes through his filmmaking records, it becomes clear; he shuns experimentalism, believing more in questioning hypothesis.
Having made Darwaza Bandh Rakho which was archived at the New York Institute of Technology, as part of the film course, he went on to direct Darna Zaroori Hai in Hindi as well as Homam and Sidham in Telugu. Though the signature of his mentor Ram Gopal Varma remains, the actor, director and producer is now breaking ground in Sandalwood, collaborating with Kannada actress Pooja Gandhi for three films.
According to JD, who was in the city recently, although he moved to Mumbai, his works are South Indian. “At present, my focus on Kannada industry is primarily because of my observation of a new trend of story ideas being converted into sensible films.
So I thought of exploring a new territory,” says the filmmaker and adds, “People, who are scared to do something new, say it is an ‘experiment’. I want to do what I think is right and Kananda industry is welcoming that change.”
Ask the filmmaker, whether this colloboration will boost Pooja’s career as an actress and her producer’s vision ? “At this point, if I am scared of anything or anybody is Pooja Gandhi. Ask me why? The trust that Pooja has in me is a huge responsibility and I want to deliver.
She wants her dream projects to be spread across Karnataka and I am working towards it and need to prove a point to her.,” he says while adding that he never realised his reputation in Karnataka. “I was amazed to see my popularity in the state unlike Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu or Kerala,” he states.
The filmmaker has now started work on Utahei and will simultaneously begin with Black and White and Boo.
Coming to his other projects as an actor, JD reveals that he is part of a few Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi films. He has also just completed directing a film, 3+3=10. “It is produced by Ram Gopal Varma and I have helmed the project. It is now in post production stages, to be released in Hindi, Telugu and Hindi,” says JD.