I PAD September 2019 1

STAR BUZZ
PRABHAS
thought this was the maximum I would
push myself.
But then Sujeeth came and Saaho
happened. I was supposed to shoot an
underwater scene in Saaho and therefore
I learnt deep sea diving for the same. I
also underwent stringent preparations
like cardiovascular training and other
exercises to pull off stunts in Saaho. So
the kind of physical and mental effort
involved is just the same.
So is your look! You are even dancing in
the film!
Yes! I enjoy that you know! Ever since I
did that blink-and-you-miss-it frame in
Action Jackson. It was something I just
did for Prabhu Deva sir! It gave me a
chance to shake a leg for a bit and that
was it! But I do hope I can do as much
variety as an actor can be allowed. The
craft is all about trying new things and
not getting typecast.
This is also the first time you are cast
opposite a heroine from Hindi cinema.
THE PRABHAS
FACTFILE
• Prabhas is the first South Indian
star to have his own wax statue at
Madame Tussauds, Bangkok. He has
beaten the likes of Rajinikanth and
Kamal Haasan and has got a statue
based on his Baahubali character
Amarendra Baahubali, wearing the
battle armour.
• He cannot resist chicken biryani
and butter chicken.
• Prabhas is a huge fan of Rajkumar
Hirani and has watched the
Munnabhai series more than 20
times.
• His cinematic idol is Robert De
Niro.
What was it like to work
with Shraddha
Kapoor?
You know Shraddha is
so much more mature
than she looks. At the
same time she is just so
innocent and has no
qualms asking for help.
There are no airs at all!
She is just so
hardworking and
unassuming. I really do
respect her and am so
fond of her! God bless
her! And I would love to
have more
opportunities to work
with her!
With Saaho co-star
Shraddha Kapoor
There is also an
observation on the
amount of time you
take on a film.
I had not intended to
spend two years
on Saaho, but it was the
action sequences that
needed a lot of
preparation. We
rehearsed a lot and I
needed to support the director and
producers, who had invested a lot. So
sometimes the timeline is not in your
hands. But having said that, I agree with
what you are saying and it is important to
not disappoint fans. I should not be lazy!
(laughs). In fact I have started working
on another film that only took 20 days to
shoot. I am working on it and I hope I am
able to do at least two films in a year.
You have bashed up baddies and also
been a ladies' man. But what are the
roles that you would like to explore?
I think I have done and am doing a lot of
action. I would love an interesting
comedy role!
Could there be more films in the
Baahubali series?
I think the film’s producers would be the
right people to answer this question.
Personally, I’d love to live the character
of Baahubali again and again and again.
It is a given!
Finally, the question that everyone
wants an answer to: when are you
getting married?
I think there are more pressing
concerns, really! (laughs). But then I
am answering it for you if you
promise not to probe me further: I
will marry when I feel like it. Maybe
next year!
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SEPTEMBER 2019