Samantha Ruth Prabhu and directors Raj & DK chat to Melissa Nathoo about Citadel: Honey Bunny, working with the Russo Brothers and making it in movies. Report by Nathoom. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
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00:00First of all, D.K. Raj, how has it been working with the Russo brothers?
00:05Because they're obviously so well-known in Hollywood,
00:07and then you guys are well-known in Bollywood,
00:09and this whole collaboration is pretty exciting.
00:12It was a good experience.
00:13Before that, we were just sitting in our rooms and writing.
00:16Then we decided, okay, writer's room.
00:18They're easy people.
00:21I know there's a big aura out there, but then as people and filmmakers,
00:26it's lovely having conversations with them
00:28because it's filmmaker to filmmaker,
00:31and their roots, their journey, we've always been inspired by
00:36because they started off as independent filmmakers like us
00:40and worked their way up and wrote their stuff, produced their stuff.
00:44So yeah, it's actually very easygoing.
00:48Yeah, it looks like a great collaboration.
00:50And we have our star in the middle, Samantha.
00:52It's so nice to meet you.
00:53Nice to meet you.
00:54And you're doing a great job in here.
00:57They've got you doing everything,
00:59from acting as an actress in the show to kicking ass.
01:03You're doing it all.
01:04For you, what was your biggest challenge of taking on this show?
01:08Biggest challenge?
01:10Well, I love challenges,
01:13although it came at a particularly challenging time in my life
01:16when I wasn't doing too well.
01:18So while I manifested this role and I wanted everything,
01:24playing a spy is undeniably tempting.
01:29Yeah, you get to do a lot of cool shit.
01:32So yeah, so I think that the challenge, I was up for it.
01:39Yeah.
01:39Just the timing of it wasn't particularly so wonderful,
01:43but I am just so relieved and glad that I was able to pull it off.
01:47And today we're here, ready for release.
01:51It's just already such a big deal for me.
01:53It's already getting a great reception, which is amazing.
01:57I don't know how much of the fighting scenes that they made you do.
02:01Did you do a lot of those as well?
02:03Yeah, everything.
02:04Were there any injuries or were you good?
02:07Bruises and everything, but that's okay.
02:09I wear them with pride now.
02:11Absolutely, absolutely.
02:13I'm curious then, have you guys, as yourselves,
02:16got any qualities that you think would make you a good spy?
02:19I don't think I have too many qualities.
02:21I would reveal everything.
02:22My identity, the plan, the plot, everything in the five minutes.
02:25You just have to say hi and everything.
02:29So I don't think...
02:32Like, hi, hi, I'm Honey.
02:34Nice meeting you.
02:34I'm here to bug you.
02:36So be careful.
02:37It's written on my face.
02:40Yeah, I'm a really bad actor off screen.
02:44Off screen, off screen.
02:45Off screen, great.
02:46Off screen.
02:47On screen, above average.
02:48No, you're good.
02:49You're doing good.
02:49Off screen, horrible.
02:51How about two of you?
02:52Anything?
02:52I think they'd be bad as well.
02:54Yeah, we'll be bad as well in real life,
02:55but I think we get to think of these characters
02:59and how they'll be different from us.
03:02So that's a good starting point, right?
03:03So, you know, take your mum,
03:07who was all loving and caring and gave you a great childhood,
03:09and then now create a crazy one like Honey in the film,
03:14who's all about tough love and teaching all kinds of stuff
03:17that you shouldn't be teaching kids.
03:19So that, I think, I don't know.
03:21I don't know if that makes us a good spy,
03:22but maybe we can create a good character sketch for this guy.
03:25Yeah, I think I've read these characters, imagining what...
03:28No, but secretly, DK would be great
03:31because every time I have a shot, like a scene,
03:35DK will practice with me and he will act it out really keenly.
03:40He will roll and show you how to shoot.
03:41Yeah, he will do everything.
03:43So I think that DK could be a good spy.
03:46You're a good action guy.
03:48It sounds like you're going to be on screen.
03:50What are you doing behind the camera?
03:52He really gets invested.
03:53There you go, guys.
03:54You just cast me in the next season of Citadel.
04:00I will be here for that.
04:01Actually, if you could have anyone join your sister world,
04:06who would be your dream casting?
04:09Right now, we'd love Priyanka to come in.
04:11Yeah, Priyanka.
04:13Yeah, because we almost wrote her into our show,
04:17except we're figuring a time machine.
04:20I don't know how that would work with you.
04:22I know.
04:25Maybe there were early plans of actually having her in the show as well,
04:28but when COVID and all happened,
04:30things went a little haywire in terms of scheduling.
04:33And finally, because there's this ongoing thread of cinema
04:36through Honey Bunny as well,
04:38and Samantha, your character's trying to become an actress,
04:41I'm curious, what do you think it takes to make it in movies?
04:45Being at the right place at the right time, I think.
04:49I don't think that you can take complete credit for becoming a star
04:55because it's more than just hard work.
04:59I mean, everybody puts in the hard work.
05:00Who does not?
05:01Everyone puts in the hard work.
05:02But I think it's just about being there at the right time,
05:06at the right place,
05:07and then really using the opportunity
05:11to then put in everything that you can.
05:14But I would say there is a certain amount of destiny.
05:17I think it's about understanding when you get that opportunity, right?
05:20Like, I mean, there are so many talented people,
05:23hardworking people who just haven't gotten the right role yet.
05:25And suddenly, after being for years in the industry,
05:28suddenly you see this one actor, boom,
05:29shooting to fame with that one role.
05:32And you're like, okay, where was this role all these years ago?
05:35Or it's like when that role comes along,
05:37if the actor cannot see it or doesn't understand the importance of it,
05:42then you lose the opportunity.
05:43I'm starting to realize that there are actors
05:46who can, who have the opportunity,
05:49but somehow can't see where it can possibly lead to.
05:53Yeah, that we see a lot.
05:54Yeah, exactly.
05:55Because I'd be like, I've made some calls.
05:58Usually it's very formal.
05:59You know, we talk and say, hey, you want to do this?
06:00Or they want to do this and move on.
06:03But sometimes I feel for the actor
06:04because I know he or she is going to be so good at it.
06:08And I don't know if they're seeing it.
06:09So I make late night calls.
06:13I have made two, three where I said, listen,
06:15can we talk, can I talk to you openly about this character?
06:19One of them was her.
06:22What?
06:22When she said, I don't want.
06:23You had to convince me to not do the role.
06:26First, okay.
06:26So first we said, listen, do you really want to do this role?
06:29It's not going to be so good.
06:30About Raji, the family man.
06:32And then when she was on and she said
06:34she was going through a very bad period with her health.
06:37For Citadel.
06:38Citadel.
06:38Right.
06:39And she said, I can't do it.
06:41I want to opt out.
06:42And we're like, no.
06:44So we both were thinking, Deek and I are like,
06:46we created this action star in the family man.
06:51Someone who has all the skill set.
06:53And it's a spy, like creating a spy.
06:55Now we want to send her on a good mission.
06:57And she's like, I'm not ready.
07:00And we're like, no, can we chat?
07:02Can we talk?
07:03So we had to convince her.
07:06She said, no, I'm not going to.
07:07It was a struggle for her.
07:11Well, thank God they convinced you.
07:14Look at it now.
07:14Like, what an amazing opportunity.
07:16Thank God you said yes.
07:17Thank God.
07:18Really lovely to meet you guys.
07:19I'm excited for Honey Bunny.
07:21I hope everyone else is.
07:22Because, yeah.
07:23Thank you so much.
07:24Thank you so much, guys.