It is a dream come true for Telugu director Harish Shankar, known for the blockbuster Gabbar Singh.
Ten years ago when he first watched Allu Arjun on screen in Arya, Shankar lost his sleep that night.
“The kind of energy Arjun brings into his performance and dances is amazing,” recalled Shankar. “I wondered then ‘When will I ever make a film with him?’”
The dream crystallised with Duvvada Jagannadham (DJ) and with DJ hitting screens on June 23, Shankar is a happy man.
DJ is Arjun’s 17th film and Shankar’s 6th. He plays Duvvada Jagannadham, a Brahmin chef who caters for marriages and other functions.
Shankar says that we all have another self within us, that comes to the fore in some situations.
Duvvada Jagannadham encounters a situation in his life that reveals his true self.
What drives this simple chef to take on the powers to be? That’s Duvvada Jagannadham for you.
“It’s a complete entertainer, packed with every element to woo the Allu Arjun’s fan,” said Shankar.
Action, emotion-laden scenes, Arjun’s dance moves that he is known for and of course romance.
Pooja Hegde is paired opposite Arjun. She plays a fashion designer who plans to go to Milan for her Masters. What attracts this hip young woman to chef DJ?
Shankar calls Hedge an intelligent actress who is committed to her role.
What impressed Shankar most was her singing a Telugu song at an event.
“Despite not being a Telugu native, she sang the song,” he remembers. “I decided then that I would cast her in my film.”
DJ was shot in various parts of Abu Dhabi. “We explored virgin spots that have never been captured on screen.”
The fan in him surfaces when he talks about Arjun. “He is a director’s delight and comes to the sets as if it was his first film. He is eager to learn and free from starry airs. I was motivated by his passion towards cinema.”
The supporting cast includes Rao Ramesh (playing the antagonist), Vennela Kishore, Chandramohan, Pavitra Lokesh and Subbaraju.
Ayananka Bose has handled the camera for DJ. Devi Sri Prasad’s foot tapping music is already rocking online.
Shankar’s love for writing and acting can be traced to his young days when he was part of theatre for around seven years, as an actor, writer, director and working backstage as well. He owes it to his father, a teacher who introduced him to reading. His cinema journey began as associate director for Veede and then he moved to co-write the script of Ninne Ishtapadannu, before putting on the director’s hat for Shock, an RGV production.
Does he not think of acting in his films?
“After my years in theatre, I realised that direction is my calling,” says the Martin Scorsese and Christopher Nolan fan.
“But there is one role I would like to play someday.”
What’s that?
“A villain,” smiles Shankar, whose next film will be a pan-India story.
Duvvada Jagannadham produced by Dil Raju is their 25th film and made with a budget of Rs600 million (Dh34.16 million).
Don’t miss it
DJ releases in the UAE on June 22.
