Director Mahesh Babu P: I was anxious about Anushka’s reaction to Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty

Mahesh Babu P, who forayed into Telugu cinema with the Sundeep Kishan, Regina Cassandra starrer Ra Ra Krishnayya, is back in action with his second directorial effort Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty, which hits screens today. Anushka Shetty, Naveen Polishetty play the lead roles in the film that’ll have a multi-lingual release. The filmmaker revisits his journey with the film over a chat.

Where it all began…

I am a Bheemavaram native, we’d later shifted to Vizag. I always liked films since childhood. The ambition to turn a director began during college days when I had begun writing stories. I was curious about the filmmaking process and entered the industry. My career took off with Ra Ra Krishnayya. I was to direct multiple films later which couldn’t go on floors due to miscellaneous reasons.

Also read: Anushka Shetty opens up on Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty, Malayalam debut with Kathanar

Bringing Anushka, Naveen Polishetty on board…

I still kept writing when my projects couldn’t materialise. I wrote the story of Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty and narrated it to a friend, he took it forward to Anushka and she’d given me an appointment. UV Creations team was also by her side. After the narration, she’d asked whom I was planning to cast for the film. I told I could decide it only after finishing the dialogue version.

After heavy films like Baahubali, Bhaagamathie, Anushka was waiting to take up something light-hearted. She liked it immediately after the narration and UV Creations agreed to back it, investing themselves fully into the project. I was happy that a big banner trusted my vision. I later narrated it to Naveen in 2019; he took three months time to say yes.

Shoot hassles

The shoot was to begin in February 2020. Just when we were readying all formalities to start in in March 2020, COVID-19 had struck and everyone was restricted to their households. Naveen went to the US to promote Jathi Ratnalu and the film couldn’t commence as per plan. We intentionally delayed the release to spend more time on the post-production.

Bold, entertaining and sensible

Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty may have a bold theme but the treatment is quite sensible. Both Anushka, Naveen enjoy credibility as performers and they don’t say yes to a film if the content doesn’t appeal to them. Even the CBFC officials said they watched the film sans any inhibitions comfortably. I was apprehensive about how Anushka would react to it but she was quite open minded.

Refreshing without being preachy

As writers, we’re able to pen scripts like these because of the openness of actors. There’s no beating around the bush these days, people discuss issues frankly. There’s a strong emotional hook, it is refreshing with an adequate dose of entertainment. It offers a new experience for audiences without being preachy. The title was born out of a newspaper headline, I found it catchy and apt.

The core premise of Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty

A girl who doesn’t wish to marry, seeks motherhood with the help of a man. What are the twists and turns in her pursuit? What challenges do the couple face? We’ve prepared the audiences with the trailer itself. In any relationship, a strong emotional foundation is necessary beyond romance and you’ll witness two characters who understand that in the film.

Chiranjeevi’s reaction to the film

Chiranjeevi called me after watching the film with his family and I was left speechless. In our discussion at his residence, he addressed all the points that I had in mind as a writer while coming up with the script, he understood the little nuances. We spent over an hour and a half at his house. He was our first reviewer. When we were tensed with the post-production work, this appreciation came as a relief.

Also Read: Naveen Polishetty on Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty: I was tensed after the success of Jathi Ratnalu