Director Maruthi opened up about the challenges behind his upcoming film The Raja Saab at the teaser launch event held recently at Prasad’s Multiplex.
Sharing a personal moment from the early stages of the film, Maruthi said, “My previous film, Pakka Commercial, didn’t work and the committed producer for this project backed out. But Prabhas stood by me. Even I felt dejected at one point and thought of sending a text to Prabhas gaaru saying, ‘Darling, let’s collaborate some other time.’ But then, in the evening, Prabhas called me and discussed what all he liked in the script. Then I felt, this man is trusting me so much and what is the point of backing out now! I came to this industry to prove something. That’s why I decided to take up the project and from there, it shaped up like this.”
Dismissing speculation about a sequel already being planned, Maruthi clarified, “We will think about Part 2 after the film comes out. See, I am not going to force a second part on audiences. Both the hero and I have that clarity.”
Maruthi, known for Prema Katha Chithram, said the film was his attempt to bring out Prabhas’ comic timing. “This is how I wanted to showcase Prabhas, tapping into his fun side,” he said.
The Raja Saab stars Prabhas in a dual role, one reportedly as a ghost. The teaser features a haunted palace, Sanjay Dutt as a lingering royal spirit, and a comic gang of friends played by Sathya, Sapthagiri, VTV Ganesh, and Prabhas Seenu. With Malavika Mohanan and Nidhhi Agerwal playing the female leads, the film has music by SS Thaman, cinematography by Karthik Palani, production design by Rajeevan and editing by Kotagiri Venkateshwara Rao.
With the production in its final stages, The Raja Saab is set to storm screens on December 5 for a pan-Indian release.