Prajwal Devaraj: To fit into the role of Gentleman was taxing

Everyone tries hard to be called a ‘gentleman’ throughout their lives, and that is exactly what Prajwal Devaraj strives for in his upcoming film, Gentleman. But while other men have sufficient time to prove themselves as persons of honour, the character he plays in the movie doesn’t — he sleeps for 18 hours and remains awake only for six hours every day. 

“His struggle to be called as a ‘gentleman’ in this short duration is challenging, and that’s how Gentleman got its title,” says Prajwal. His excitement is palpable as he talks to Cinema Express about the film, ahead of its release on February 7.

He admits that director Jadesh Kumar's script introduced him to a couple of new concepts. “I had no clue about the sleeping beauty syndrome or the human egg trafficking and learned about both only after the director narrated the story to me. That’s what excited me and made me pick up the project,” says the actor, whose only concern was whether Jadesh had done enough research. “Whether it’s about a person’s weakness or fertility-related crimes, these are close to real stories, and we shouldn’t be doing something wrong. Even I did my homework and studied the behavioural pattern of people who have a weakness to sleep all the time, their temper levels. All of it helped me to play the character authentically,” he adds.

Like its title, the tag line of the film, 'Kumbhakarna', has also created interest among fans as it is the name of the mythical demon from Ramayanana. According to Prajwal, the team initially planned to have Kumbhakarna as the film’s title, but they felt it was too harsh, and so it became the tag line. “The hero’s introduction and the film’s opening happens with a play based on Kumbhakarna,” he reveals.

Prajwal found it taxing —  mentally and physically — to get into character for Gentleman, as he had to put in a lot of effort. He says this will be evident on the screen. “It has been a year-and-a-half since I had a release, and after watching Gentleman, I felt it was worth the wait,” says the actor, who is all praise for his director. “Jadesh Kumar is an intelligent director. He knows what he wants, and has gauged the pulse of the audience. The twist and turns that he has brought in every 15 minutes in Gentleman is something everybody should watch out for.”