Will ‘creative differences’ prevent Ranveer Singh from playing Rakshas?

Director Prashanth Varma, who achieved international fame with his first Hindi and multilingual film Hanu-Man, is in the news again, this time in relation to his next movie, tentatively titled Rakshas, potentially starring Ranveer Singh. Rumour mills are working overtime claiming there are “creative differences” between the director and actor, and that many of Ranveer’s rivals in Bollywood and Tollywood have been calling up Prashanth, offering to work with him. The director opens up about these rumours for the first time, during a promotional photoshoot of Rakshas. Read on for excerpts from the question-and-answer session:

What is the status of the project?

I am still in the process of taking it forward. We will leave no stone unturned to complete the project as decided. Usually, I don’t read media reports, but one portal had mentioned some creative differences between Ranveer and me, and other rumours have been floating around too. I can only say that the reports are exaggerated.

Are you in discussions with Ranveer Singh?

Ranveer Singh, Mythri Movie Makers and I are still in talks and we’re trying to sort out all the issues. We will get a clearer picture by the coming week.

We hear that the differences are centred on the demand that the technicians [Ranveer’s team] from Bollywood be allowed to join the work on Rakshas. Is that correct?

Prashanth just smiles, and offers no comment.

We are told that after hearing rumours of the differences between you and Ranveer Singh, many actors from Tollywood and Bollywood have called you directly, offering to collaborate with you. Is that so?

“No comment,” Prashanth says with a laugh.

Is there a danger of you and Ranveer not being able to sort out these differences?

I don’t overthink. We haven’t stopped working on the project. I am still working on it on a daily basis as we plan to keep to the already scheduled dates.

How do you see your first association with the Bollywood-wallas?

We in Tollywood work as a team and work towards the progress of a film in totality. I am working with a Hindi film hero for the first time. I have no clue how it works in Mumbai.

And lastly, rumours suggest that Ranveer has opted out of your film. What do you say about that?

We shall get a clearer picture by next week. So, the bottom line is, only time will tell if Ranveer Singh will be Prashanth Varma’s Rakshas.