Dalapathi was worth the wait: Prem

Prem’s Dalapathi has been in the making for nearly three years, but the actor is still excited to talk about the film.

In a conversation with Cinema Express, he says that the wait for its release did seem never-ending. But, he tells us, there were reasons for the delay. “The director, heroine and myself got busy with our other commitments, which had to be prioritised,” says the actor, whose only release last year was Chowka.

“I have Life Jothe Ondhu Selfie, directed by Dinakar, which is in post-production. Meanwhile, I read nearly 76 scripts, but none of the stories excited me. In the current movie industry, it is not easy for an actor like me to pick any and every project… Once, we used to do films for survival, but the audience and the industry have changed.”

Was he not worried about being forgotten by the audience? “To be honest, I did feel like I was missing out,” he says. “But, there are times when you have to take a tough decision. Audience appreciation matters, for which it is necessary to wait patiently for the right script.” 

Prem knows that a hero’s career has a shorter span than an actor’s. “I have decided to give only a certain amount of time to certain makers. I have even told directors and producers who approach me not to come asking for dates without having the script, cast and schedule ready,” he says.

That said, he says that every minute spent on Dalapathi was worthwhile. “It took a while to make but it is a well-made film, and I am not saying this because it is my film. I can’t get back the time I have spent on this project, but I feel good about the final result. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be talking about it,” he says.

Dalapathi, Prem says, is a commercial movie that has an element of romance. “This is my answer to those who felt that Prem only fits into romance films. Lovely Prem (a tag given to him) can do action too… I am not saying that Dalapathi is extraordinary or a first in Kananda cinema. It is a familiar subject with a unique presentation,” he says.

The actor adds that the film's director Prashanth is a good technician, who keeps himself up-to-date with the latest technology. “He has always had a list of technicians who he can call for the right project. He is passionate about his work,” he says.

Is he choosy about his projects? “There are times, I get a good story, but the team fails to execute it well. Then there are times I know that the producer cannot invest the money required to make the film work,” he says. As an actor, he looks first at the story. “Second comes the producers and, lastly, a good team. I have started believing that it is important for an actor to compromise, if it helps him be part of good films,” he adds.