Rajamouli dissects Salaar with Prabhas,Prashanth Neel and Prithviraj Sukumaran. Leading up to the release of Prabhas' highly anticipated film "Salaar" on December 22, 2023, the makers unveiled an intriguing promotional video. In this video, star director Rajamouli engaged in a captivating interview with Prabhas, Prashanth Neel, and Prithviraj Sukumaran, providing insights into the making of "Salaar."
Prashanth Neel, the director, shared his perspective with Rajamouli, emphasizing that despite the lawless and violent backdrop of the fictional land of Khansar, the core narrative revolves around the friendship between two childhood friends, Deva and Vardha. He expressed, “This story is all about Deva and Vardha, Salaar is a drama at its core.” Prashanth Neel acknowledged the influence of Telugu cinema on him and clarified that the violence in "Salaar" is subdued compared to some Telugu films, highlighting the need for the violence within the context of the story.
Addressing any perceived similarities with his previous blockbuster "KGF," Prashanth Neel clarified that "Salaar" is entirely distinct and unrelated to "KGF." He explained that the visual similarity was not a conscious decision but rather a representation of the dark and gritty world the characters inhabit. He humorously revealed how he and the actors would just go along with it, quipping, “I would ask Prithviraj if he can see a difference because I didn’t. We would just go along with it because the director asked us.”
Prabhas and Prithviraj Sukumaran added a light-hearted touch to the conversation, poking fun at Prashanth Neel's meticulous approach. Prabhas jokingly blamed Rajamouli for the loss of his privacy after the massive success of "Baahubali." He shared the challenges of transitioning from the Telugu film industry to a pan-India and global star, recounting instances where his newfound fame resulted in a loss of privacy, especially during international travels.
Reflecting on the evolution of "Salaar," Prabhas revealed that despite initial skepticism due to other commitments, he ultimately agreed to the project. He candidly admitted, “I considered saying no. But I thought, if my fans find out, they’ll kill me. I agreed despite being busy with Nag Ashwin’s Kalki 2898 AD. Instead of the 45 days they initially asked, I ended up shooting for 102 days.”
The promotional video not only provided a glimpse into the creative process behind "Salaar" but also showcased the camaraderie and humor shared among its talented cast and crew.