‘Yes’ police,’ says Prajwal

We catch the charismatic Prajwal Devaraj as he readies himself for the release of his latest film where he essays the character of a police inspector. Almost 30 films old in the movie industry, he is still counting his blessings and chuffed about the coincidences that mark his film career a charmed one. “The makers of the film were the ones who had done Pushpaka Vimana. I was really impressed with that movie and was enquiring about them when they coincidentally called me the same day and narrated the script of this film!” reveals Prajwal, adding, “Inspector Vikram is a title that’s already been used for a film quite a few years ago and the character was one that people loved.”

 As for his co-star Bhavana, with whom he’s working for the first time in this film produced by Bagpiper Soda in association with Vikhyath Chitra, he says “Our combo has worked out really well. Also, our director Narasimha is a timid person, but one who does an amazing job.”

Overall, he is in a good place and happy to talk about it. He smiles, “I’m extremely content. I believe in gratitude and the law of attraction. I have seen flops in between, but I’m at a place where it’s all settled now. I’m really happy with my work.” Another of his upcoming films is Gentleman, where he plays a lad with a sleeping disorder, who snoozes for 18 hours and is awake for six. “It’s a challenging role to play because you need to convey the whole feel of constantly being in a tizzy. In that time span, he falls in love, starts a family and goes to work,” he explains.

With his younger brother Pranam too entering films, is cinema all they talk about when they hangout? “Of course, we do. He used to always spend time with me during my shoots — that’s how I learnt things too (by attending my dad’s shoots),” says the son of Kannada actor Devaraj, adding, “Pranam discusses his scripts with me too. I’ve signed three more films and he was with me during the script narration.”

The actor, who’s living a blissful married life with dancer Ragini Chandran, is pretty active on social media. “But honestly, in the little free time we get, we just like to laze on the couch and binge-watch stuff on Netflix. Also, we travel a lot. I sometimes think I’m earning only to travel! My favourite destination is Goa — I’ve always gone there with mom and dad and even learnt swimming there,” shares Prajwal, whose last trip was to Budapest. He says he was in awe of this ‘straight out of a fairytale’ experience.

Considering there’s so much talk about the #metoo movement in the Indian film industry, what are his thoughts on it? “Isn’t it like basic behaviour to not to do these things?” he thunders. “From the time we were kids, our parents have taught us what culture is. Anybody in any position doing something like that is very wrong. It’s basic human courtesy to not harass. It shouldn’t even be an issue, but the fact that it is, is pathetic. The whole movement started because someone was brave enough to talk about what happened to them, and now hopefully, everybody will be extra careful before doing something stupid,” he asserts.

Some good guys do come up tops.