PremiumExclusive! Garuda Ram – KGF gave me an identity, so even if my role in Salaar is great, it will be second best for me
KGF’s Garuda, Ramachandra Raju, has a pivotal role in Salaar, his second collaboration with Prashant Neel, who the actor says is single-handedly responsible for changing his life
Last Updated: 01.44 PM, Dec 02, 2023
When the trailer of director Prashant Neel’s Salaar Ceasefire was released on December 1, 2023, there were a couple of pleasant cast inclusion surprises for Kannada audiences. While Premier Padmini and Rathnan Prapancha fame Pramod being a part of Salaar has been known for a while, that Madhu Guruswamy, Naveen Shankar and Garuda Ram were also on the cast was not. In fact, Ram being in Salaar was all the proof needed that there is no KGF connect to this tale. The actor was in Malaysia, where he was playing cricket as part of the Raj Cup tournament, when the Salaar trailer came out, and it wasn’t until early this morning that he saw all the messages that had been pouring in for him.
“A few people knew that I was a part of the film, but as a team, it was decided that until Prashant sir makes an announcement, none of us would talk about it. I was at the Mumbai airport at around 3 am this morning on my way back from Malaysia, when I got to see all the messages I had received. There were a lot of congratulatory messages. Many were surprised that I am in the film and said I looked good in the trailer,” Ram tells us. The surprise, if one were to hazard a guess, is mostly down to the fact that many Kannadiga audiences harboured hope that Salaar would have a KGF connect. Since Ram was the chief antagonist of KGF-1 and his character had died, his Salaar role could not have KGF connect.
Playing Garuda in KGF: Chapter 1 was a life changing and defining moment for Ram, who has, since, done several other roles, but continues to be known for his role in the Prashant directorial. “Prashant sir single-handedly changed my life around. I wouldn’t have been an actor or attained the popularity I have today without him. My life would have, no doubt, had a different trajectory if not for Prashant sir. Directors are like Brahma – they can change your fate around; Prashant sir did that for me,” says Ram. So, when Prashant then called him for a role in Salaar, his joy knew no bounds. “Earlier, Prashant sir had said that he would not repeat anyone from KGF in Salaar. When he then asked if I would play a role, I was thrilled to bits,” he says.
Ram is under strict instructions to not speak about his role in Salaar. But will it be the one that will give him a new identity that’s not attached to KGF anymore? “KGF gave me an identity. Tomorrow, even if I get something bigger and better than that, for me, KGF will remain the brightest and most important spot in my career. No matter the kind of roles I get, I am and will always be Garuda Ram. Nothing can beat Garuda. Even if my character in Salaar is as career-defining as that in KGF: Chapter 1, it will always be in second place,” he states.
As his second collaboration with Prashant, Ram’s experience this time around was vastly different than during KGF. “Back then, I was a rank newcomer and needed extensive workshops before facing the camera. In the time since, I have done a handful of films, which, I think made it easier for Prashant sir. After giving me a basic narration of the story, all he had to do was tell me what he wanted from me. He didn’t have to do any hand-holding. Moreover, I understand Prashant sir’s pulse and what he expects of me, which made Salaar a much better experience for the both of us,” Ram adds.