Prithviraj Sukumaran: Yash and Rakshit Shetty are two great actors that I would love to collaborate with at some point

Malayalam superstar Prithviraj Sukumaran is a close ally of the Kannada film industry, having presented not one but two movies in recent times in Kerala. The films, KGF: Chapter 2 and 777 Charlie have made him bucketloads of money, he says. "Over the last six months, I have been made the unofficial brand ambassador of Kannada cinema in Kerala," he says. Taking his association with Karnataka further, Prithviraj is now also dubbing his Malayalam films into Kannada and releasing them here. He’s also directing a pan-India film for Hombale Films called Tyson, which will go on floors sometime in 2023.

In Bengaluru for the promotions of his latest, Kaduva, Prithviraj was asked about the people he’d like to collaborate with in Kannada cinema. “As a director, I am not someone who starts thinking of a film wanting to work with one particular actor. Even for the film that I am going to be directing for Hombale Films in which I will star as well, I didn’t start thinking like that. It wasn’t started as a film in which I will direct myself. I just thought that maybe, among the available options, I fit that character best,” he says.

Prithviraj adds, “There are so many wonderful actors in Kannada cinema. I would love to work with all of them as a filmmaker. Like every filmmaker, I am also very greedy and want to work with all the big stars and new exciting talents. Of late, I know Yash and Rakshit (Shetty) quite well and these are two great actors that I would love to collaborate with at some point. As for directors, well, I know I am working with Prashant (Neel); I will at some point. He’s an Indian director from Kannada now; he’s reached that stage. I don’t know many names of directors from Karnataka other than Prashant, but there is this film that I saw long back and blew my mind – Lucia. That filmmaker maybe. Also, if Rakshit is making a film with a Malayalam actor, I would love to audition for it."