'Audiences no longer care about mass films, they just want good content', says Dheeren R Rajkumar

Dheeren R Rajkumar is currently in Mysuru, filming Pabbar — what he calls a deeply passionate project — helmed by Shakhahaari-fame director Sandeep Sunkad. The actor says playing a cop has always been on his wishlist—but this role, he insists, isn’t just another cliché. “There’s real depth, emotion and integrity here. The cop in this film is realistic; he’s not a hero in a masala flick. Today’s audience doesn’t care about mass dialogues or mass films. They want content. And that is exactly how I think. I’m a huge fan of content-driven stories—Family Man and The Vortex are among my favourites when it comes to layered portrayals of cops,” he says.



‘I took taekwondo classes, lost 15 kgs for my role’
“It’s an adventure crime thriller that demanded certain physical and emotional skill sets. From the moment I heard the one-line narration from the director, I was hooked, and I knew I’d do whatever it takes to get it right. This film feels special because I’m stepping into uniform for the first time. With that comes an organic sense of discipline and dignity. I also trained in taekwondo and shed 15 kgs for the part,” shares Dheeren.



‘Shivanna maama and Geethatthe’s backing means everything to me’
Dheeren opens up about how the film found its producer. “I went to Shivanna maama (Shivarajkumar) with the story, hoping he’d guide us to someone who could produce it. A few days later, he called to tell me he’d like to back the film himself. I felt incredibly privileged—but I also know I have to work doubly hard to prove I’m worthy of the trust Shivanna maama and Geethatthe have placed in me,” he shares.