Sudha Kongara on differences with Akshay Kumar on Sarfira set: He looked through me

Sarfira director Sudha Kongara recently spoke about creative differences with the film’s lead actor Akshay Kumar on the set. In an interview Sudha said that the issues with Akshay lasted about a week during which the actor would “see through her” and producer Vikram Malhotra had to step in to resolve differences.

In an interview with India Today, when Sudha was asked what the first day on set was like, she said, “Both of us (Akshay and her) were quite individualistic in our approach to the script. He understood me and I understood him. Certain things that I’m very particular about, I don’t give in. And when I don’t give in, Vikram steps in. And then he’ll say, ‘No paaji, no paaji, you have to…’ It worked so brilliantly.” Sudha said that both she and Akshay like working early in the morning, so that’s one thing they agreed on instantly. But there were growing pains otherwise. “His process was a little different than mine,” she said.

“I was stuck to the original… But this character isn’t quiet, he’s happy, he jumps around. He’s happy. Akshay brought that to the character. In the beginning, I didn’t understand him for about six days. We had our frictions. But he’s not the kind to get angry or shout. He’ll look through you. I didn’t care, because I was getting what I wanted anyways. When he’s upset, when he’s a little low, he gives you the best,” she added.

In another interview with Galatta Plus, even Akshay spoke about the differences between him and Sudha. “Sudha is a director who sets up her camera, and tells the actor what they need to do. But there are many directors who ask, ‘You tell me what you’re going to do, and I’ll move the camera accordingly. Sudha was telling me what I have to do, not the other way around.”

The filmmaker, on the other hand, had previously said, “Suriya is Suriya. I have known him for over 25 years, and it’s much easier to tell him what I want. It’s very friendly and casual. But with Akshay sir, it’s ‘sir’ first of all, and I was meeting this gentleman for the first time. Since I have no filters, it was almost similar. The first six days, he wasn’t happy. He was like, ‘What is this girl making me do all this rubbish?’ So then he and the producer spoke to me, and I said, ‘You do whatever you like to do, and I will tell you when it isn’t going right.’ I also had to let go because I had created the perfect Maara in my head, and I thought there could be nobody better than Suriya, and that’s how it had to be played. I soon realised that I was suffocating this actor who had his own method, so I had to let go.”

Sarfira opened to mixed reviews last Friday. As per reports, the film has been Akshay’s lowest opening in 15 years. The film has collected about Rs 15 crore since its release.