In his upcoming film Prajwal Devaraj will be seen in a slightly hatke role. The Phaneesh-directorial titled Rudhira will have the actor playing a Naxalite, and will feature him in a grey shade. “Rudhira means blood, and the film will have the Naxal movement as the backdrop. Since red is the symbolic representation among Naxalites, we decided on this title,” explains Phaneesh, who wanted to showcase Prajwal in a totally different role from his previous films.

“Prajwal’s role in Rudhira is as close as it could get to reality. It is an intense love story, and we will start shooting in Dandeli from December 13. We will then proceed to Kudremukh, Sakhleshpur and will touch Kerala border. With Prajwal in the lead, the film will have eight other characters, who will be seen in prominent roles, the cast is mostly newcomers from a theatre background,” adds Phaneesh.

The prep for his script took four-and-half-years. According to the filmmaker, there were 13 drafts before the final one. “I have worked like a journalist while scripting the story of Rudhira. There was so much research to be done. I travelled to Chhattisgarh and even met a few former Naxalites. A few books too came in handy. I felt that such subjects need intense research,” says Phaneesh, adding, “I am going to be delving deep into the subject.”

Sanusha Santhosh, who made her mark in Kannada with Santheyalli Nintha Kabira, is likely to take up this project in Kannada. Phaneesh says, “Yes, we have approached Sanusha, as she fit the bill. Even the actor, who has read the synopsis, liked the concept. However, an announcement will be made once she is officially on board.”