Prem’s Dalapathi has been in the making for nearly three years, but the actor is still excited to talk about the film.In a conversation with City Express, he says that the wait for its release did seem never-ending. But, he tells us, there were reasons for the delay.
“The director, heroine and myself got busy with our other commitments, which had to be prioritised. Moreover, a film cannot run on me alone, it requires team work,” says the actor, who had only Chowka in theatres last year.
“I have Life Jothe Ondhu Selfie, directed by Dinakar, which is in post-production. Meanwhile, I had read nearly 76 scripts but none of the stories excited me. In the current movie industry, it is not easy for an actor like me to pick any and every project… Once, we have done films for survival, but the audience and the industry have changed.”
Did the actor not feel forgotten by silver screen? “To be honest, I did feel like I was missing out,” he says. “But, there are times when you have to take a tough stand. Audience appreciation matters, for which we wait patiently for the right script to come by.”
Prem knows that a hero’s career has a span shorter than an actor’s. “I have reworked my working pattern and have decided to give only a certain amount of time to certain makers. I have even told directors and producers who approach me not to come asking for dates without having the script, cast and schedule ready,” he says.
That said, he says that every minute spent on Dalapathi was worthwhile. “It took a while to make but it is a well-made movie, and I am not saying this because it is my film. I can’t get back the time I have spent on this movie, but I feel good about the final result. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have talked about it,” he says.
Dalapathi, Prem says, is a commercial movie that has an element of romance. “This is my answer to those who felt that Prem only fits into romance movies. Lovely Prem, a tag that was given to me, can do action too… I am not saying that Dalapathi is extraordinary or a first in Kananda cinema. It is a familiar subject with a unique presentation,” he says.
Prashanth as a director is a good technician, who keeps himself up-to-date with latest technology, says Prem. “He has always had a list of technicians who he can call for the right project. He is passionate about his work,” he says.
Is Prem choosy about his projects? “There are times, I get a good story, but the team fails to execute it well. Then there are times I know that the producer cannot invest the money required to make this movie work,” he says.
As an actor, he says, he looks first at the story. “Second comes the producers and, lastly, a good team. I have started believing that it is important for an actor to compromise, if it helps him be part of good films,” he says.