EXCLUSIVE | Prithviraj Sukumaran on Salaar: 'The film can have the scale, the action, the sets, but without emotions...'

Prithviraj Sukumaran is all set to star in KGF fame Prashanth Neel’s upcoming film Salaar: Part One- Ceasefire that also stars Prabhas, Jagapathi Babu, and Shruti Haasan. In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, the actor spoke about his prep for the character he essays, working with Neel on this keenly anticipated juggernaut, and his one takeaway from working in the film.

Edited excerpts from the interview

The trailer looks very intense very gripping, how was your prep for the character like?

We had a lot of workshops, Prashanth gave me a detailed narration and there were a lot of discussions regarding my look in the film. He has given a lot of time to the script, and he explained to me the history and the dynamics of the place he has created in this saga.

Prashanth Neel has said recently that this is a story driven by emotions. As an actor and a filmmaker, what is the importance of emotions in cinema for you?

It could be any genre in the world, be it action or comedy, it should be able to connect or communicate with the viewers. Salaar can have the scale and the action and the sets, but without emotions, there’s no use; and Prashanth is the master of emotions. This is the story about two friends and what worked for me is the drama in the story, and I keep telling him that.

At the trailer launch of Selfiee, there was a discussion around the lack of too many two hero films and now we are about to end 2023 with this massive film with three huge stars coming together, you Prabhas, and Jagapathi Babu. What can we expect from this ambitious casing?

You cannot dismiss a single character in the film and that’s the hallmark of great writing. All these big stars are coming together for one film about friendship and emotions.

You have dabbled with film production and direction as well. Does the producer or the director in you ever give his inputs on any film you work on as an actor?

For Salaar, Prashanth was my bouncing board. We give each other a lot ideas and I’ve learned a lot from him. I don’t think he can learn anything from me.

What has been the one takeaway for you from this film?

For me, it has been the conviction of the entire team. Prabhas, Hombale Films, Prashanth Neel, I hope they keep doing what they do and keep making good films.