A choreographer – that’s me, the real me: Prabhu Dheva

For Prabhu Dheva, it is just about B-wood these days, but it ain’t bye-bye to South either. He talks about films, stars and his single status
Hindi totally gol, and angrezi, well…” But the grin that accompanies this one-liner is a mix between naughty and self-effacing, as Prabhu Dheva, Bollywood’s new director tries to find words to tell us what he is feeling at this moment.
His movie is raking in the moolah at the box office, but the man himself is humble about it, and considers himself a beginner in Bollywood – something his ‘Akshay sir’ and “Shah Rukh sir’ clearly indicates.
Considering he has directed only two films so far (“Wanted” and “Rowdy Rathore”), his success ratio must make him a most wanted in Bollywood? Another grin follows, and with that heavy Tamilian accent, he says, “By God’s grace, everything went off well. Hard work is there, but without His grace, making such a film in such a short period would not have been possible. There was no problem.”
“Rowdy Rathore” is also a South remake, right? As was “Wanted”? “Yes. The movie was “Vikramarkudu” in Telugu and was also made as “Siruthai” in Tamil.” So, what has he changed? “The secret of making a remake is to keep the emotions the same. Emotions of anger, love, sadness and happiness are universal. Why did a movie work in the first place? Because of the emotions it evokes, right? So, that must not be touched. The rest all – the dancing, the comedy, the fight, romance, all scenes can be modified to suit regional nuances, but not the emotions. The remake has to capture the emotions 100%,” says Prabhu.
And so, he is now set in Bollywood. “I don’t know…” What? No strutting the success? “I don’t know. All this… it is not in my hands. “Wanted” brought me many offers. “Rowdy Rathore” was one of them – all the movies I am currently working on are the ones I committed to one and half years ago. So, let’s see.” So, he’s here for the long haul then. Is it bye-bye South? “No, do not phrase it that way. See, I am working fully here in Bollywood right now. These are big films, needing lot of time and attention, so, no South films for me right now. But that’s not bye-bye. I am doing this now, when I do Tamil or Telugu films, I will fully do that.”
Doesn’t he miss working down South? “How does one ‘miss’ working when you are working? All these are films only… the language, cast, etc, are not limiting factors. Our team – the cameraman, the choreographer, editor – if you get set with them, then you don’t ‘miss’ not working with anyone. Yes, when you work with an artiste or actor for the first time, there is that initial getting to know bit. But I am sure that applies here among Bollywood people themselves as much as it might apply to me. Also, that lasts for two days max – and then, you get used to working with them. Like how you adapt to a new job? Once you get going, meet your boss, etc, do you keep missing your old job? Aisa hi. I love Bollywood. For me, it is about crossing a barrier. A border. I am setting myself free.”
His first movie was with the moody, broody Salman Khan. Not someone known to be easy to work – so, how did that go? “I never felt anything like that when I worked with him. Nothing like that. It was super working with him. And even now, if I get a remote chance to work with him, I will grab it. I am in touch with him, even this film, I wanted to show it to him, and he said he was busy shooting in Thailand, so when he gets free, he will see it. ‘Best of luck, Prabhu’ he had said.” So, you’re on Salman’s direct dial, is it? “Well, I SMS him first. He is such a big star, so busy, how can I just disturb him?”
And the very obvious language problem, how does he handle that? “Any movie, once I agree to direct, be it Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, or even Spanish, I know every word uttered by the actor during shots, the dialogues. I just have to know. How I do it, how I understand it, is my job. But I have to – for that is my command over my work. If I cannot understand, I will not direct the film. I and the writer go over every word uttered in the film, discuss, check it for nuance in a language I am familiar with, try it out phonetically in the language I am directing in, and make changes if necessary. And then, we begin work, as in actually asking the actor to say the dialogues.”
Well, he used to choreograph. “That’s me. Real me. I am not getting a chance to do that now, because I am directing. But I don’t miss it, because I keep dancing, thinking of moves.”
And also in parties. Like he did with Shah Rukh Khan post the IPL. This brings on a look of awe on Prabhu’s face. “So kind of him, he came to my house, flew down from Mumbai, just for the party. It was an incredible moment for me, and it was very kind of him. He could have hosted the hottest bash in the country that night, and yet, he chose to dance at my party. He asked me to do the beats of “Chinta Taa Taa”. It’s a big thing to do. No words. As a host, my chest swelled with pride at that moment. Even Akshay sir, he is such a disciplined person as I have come to know him. He sleeps early, wakes up at 4.30, exercises for a couple of hours… follows a strict regimen. And yet, he stayed up till 3am at my party that night. What can I say?”
Maybe he could say something about his personal life – the marriage, the engagement, the break up… “I am single now. No new or old girlfriend. But that is all I will say. I have tried to keep my personal life personal. Else, why would it be called personal life, isn’t it? So, how does he chill out? “Right now, I have a lot to do. I am also choreographing an awards night, so I practice for hours.”