Exclusive! Kalyani Priyadarshan on Prithviraj and Vineeth: They are both polar opposites in the way they work

Even as the praises for Kalyani Priyadarshan’s Hridayam are flooding in, the actress has another big release lined up – Bro Daddy. Coincidentally, both movies are helmed by actors, with Vineeth Sreenivasan helming Hridayam and Bro Daddy marking Prithviraj Sukumaran’s second directorial debut.

In a recent interview with OTTplay, the actress talked to us about the different working styles of the two filmmakers and how both help put their cast at ease during the making process.

The Varane Avashyamund and Maanaadu actress says that actor-directors know exactly what goes through the mind of an artiste before a take and that helps because the filmmakers are aware of how to counter that and calm the nerves. “That being said both of them are polar opposites in the way they work,” says Kalyani.

Prod her more on the difference between Vineeth and Prithviraj’s directorial styles and she says, “Vineeth chettan is very free with his actors. He wants to see what you can give because he is like, ‘I don’t know what you are capable of and so I want you to do what you can do’.” Kalyani plays Nithya Balagopal in the coming-of-age drama Hridayam, which also has Pranav Mohanlal and Darshana Rajendran in the lead.

In the feel-good comedy entertainer Bro Daddy, she plays Anna, the romantic interest of Eesho John Kattadi essayed by Prithviraj. “Rajuettan is extremely clear with what he wants and he will direct you to the T. He will tell you the exact emotion that he wants at a point, so he was a lot more specific,” she says.

Ask her if this was how he was with all actors including Mohanlal and she explains, “When it comes to Lal mama, he was like, ‘I don’t need to direct him. This is a role that’s perfect for him. Let him do what he wants, I just want to watch and enjoy.’ For his other actors, at least with me, he was specific about who my character was and how she reacts. Both Vineeth chettan and Rajuettan have different methods but the end result is just as good.”

Read the entire interview: Exclusive! Kalyani Priyadarshan: I have learnt the most as an actor while working with Mohanlal in Bro Daddy