Exclusive! Shaakuntalam actor Kabir Duhan Singh: Samantha is a real-life warrior

Kabir Duhan Singh

Actor Kabir Duhan Singh is awaiting the release of his next film, Shaakuntalam, which also stars southern superstar Samantha in the titular role.

Though in the past Kabir has worked in South Indian films, be it Tamil, Telugu, or Kannada, this is a special film for him.

In a special conversation with OTTplay, the actor opened up on his experience working on the magnum opus and more.

Asked what sets Samantha apart from the other superstars that he worked with, Kabir said, "She is a warrior, a professional on set, and a star on screen that we all admire. She is a fighter because we all know that she suffers from dermatomyositis. But she did not let it affect her work, as she was shooting constantly. She really is a strong woman. And you can see how beautiful she looks as Shaakuntala from the trailer of the film."

He went on to say, "I loved her work in The Family Man 2. I believe that's the power of an actress and a true performing artist: that they can play any role so convincingly that as an audience member, you would wonder how it could be possible that one person can play such a myriad of characters. But credit also goes to the directors, Raj and DK, who imagined and discovered a new side to Samantha through the show."

Shaakuntalam is directed by National Award-winning film director Gunasekhar. It also stars veteran actors like Kabir Bedi, Sachin Khedekar, Prakash Raj, Madhoo, Gautami, and Jisshu Sengupta.

Talking about working on such a huge film, Kabir said, "I am fortunate and really excited to be part of the film. In Hindi films, whenever anyone thinks of mythological films and artistic films, they think of Sanjay Leela Bhansali. In the south, especially in Telugu cinema, Gunasekhar sir is like him. He has a deep sense of history, aesthetics, and beauty. Even at the script level, he has paid attention to each character in the film and allowed them to shine. So, even if it is a film with multiple veteran actors, everyone has an important place in the narrative."

In the film, Kabir plays the character of King Asura, and according to him, shooting the action sequence was an interesting experience.

"We shot the war sequence over a week, and the action sequences were designed innovatively. I have some important scenes with Dev Mohan, who plays Dushyanta in the film. Costumes play an important role in mythological films, which is why Neeta Lulla designed our costumes. When I wore them, I looked completely different. Essaying this role was an amazing experience," said Kabir, signing off.

Shaakuntalam is a Telugu-language film that releases on April 14 in theatres. It will also release in Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam.

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