PremiumLucky Baskhar producer on casting Dulquer Salmaan: 'Times have changed, he's more of a Telugu hero...'
Lucky Baskhar is Dulquer Salmaan's new film which has been produced by Naga Vamsi. Meenakshi Chaudhary plays the female lead in this film which has been directed by Venky Atluri.
Last Updated: 05.39 PM, Oct 21, 2024
Dulquer Salmaan's Lucky Baskhar is all set to hit the screens on October 31, 2024. In this interview, producer Naga Vamsi speaks about the film's subject, the hype surrounding it, casting non-Telugu stars in his films, and upcoming projects. Here is the transcript.
After making a serious film like Sir, what made you choose Lucky Baskhar?
The director, Venky Atluri, and I share a very close collaboration. After the success of Sir, Venky suggested that we make a film about the banking sector and stock market from a bygone era. A few days later, he narrated a thriller to me, which I loved, and we decided to make it on a large scale.
You made Sir with Dhanush and now Lucky Baskhar with Dulquer Salmaan. Is there a strategy behind this?
Yes, I've heard people commenting on my decision to cast non-Telugu stars in my films. But times have changed. Dulquer is now more of a Telugu hero than just a Malayalam star. He has a massive following in Telugu, and we felt he would be perfect for the role of a banker in our period drama, so we approached him. He loved the story and agreed in the first sitting.
Lucky Baskhar's release was postponed twice. Why are many of your projects delayed time and again?
It’s not intentional. The practice in my production house is to showcase the film to my uncle and senior producer, Chinna Babu when it’s ready. If he likes the film, we proceed with the release. However, if he or I feel there is room for improvement, we work on it. I believe there is nothing wrong with correcting mistakes while we still can. Most of my films undergo proper scrutiny, which is why we have a 90% success rate.
What is the unique aspect of Lucky Baskhar?
Lucky Baskhar has many high points that will thrill the audience. They will connect strongly with Baskhar's character as the film is set in Mumbai. Dulquer’s performance, combined with his charm, is one of the biggest assets of the film. Also, there is an undercurrent theme about the relationship between husband and wife that is portrayed superbly, making it another major highlight.
What made you invest so much in Jr NTR's Devara as a distributor?
Touchwood, we’ve seen solid profits with Devara. I wanted to take a major leap in the distribution sector, which is why I took a gamble and bought the rights for a significant amount. I was confident that NTR would deliver with Devara, especially since it was his first solo release after six long years. Thankfully, my instincts paid off.
Tell us more about Dulquer Salmaan’s performance in the film.
He is the heart and soul of Lucky Baskhar. Dulquer is a huge star who always picks films with unique content. When it comes to his Telugu films, the audience is always eager to see what Dulquer brings next. In Lucky Baskhar, he plays an exciting role, and the twists he introduces will impress everyone.
Why are you often surrounded by controversies?
I always speak my mind, and that doesn’t sit well with everyone. Since I produce so many films, some don’t like the way I work or how confidently I talk about my films. Naturally, they try to troll me or criticize my films. But I ignore the trolls and focus on delivering hits.
Tell us about your upcoming projects.
Our new film Magic, directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri, will be released on December 21, 2024. Then, Balakrishna's film will be out in January 2025 as a Sankranthi special. Vijay Deverakonda's VD12 is also in production, and we have MAD 2 set to hit the screens soon.