Every film is a step forward in my learning: Devi Prasad Shetty

With Second Case of Seetharam now in theatres, Kannada director Devi Prasad Shetty remains clear about his creative direction — he is firmly rooted in the thriller gen re. Having begun his journey with thrillers, and now on his fourth film, he believes there is still much to explore before moving to other genres. Excerpts from a chat: ‘THRILLERS ARE MY SPACE FOR LEARNING’
“My first film was a thriller, and I haven’t explored other genres because I feel there’s still a lot to learn,” he says. For him, filmmaking is a continuous process of writing, rewriting and facing rejection. “I treat that as learning and constantly try to improve my work.” Rather than diversifying early, he wants to deepen his understanding of the genre. “I want to continue with thrillers until I’ve explored them enough. If I move to romance or comedy, my entire approach will change — I’ll have to start as a beginner,” he adds.

‘TRUST AND COMFORT DRIVE THE COLLABORATION’
The film marks Devi Prasad’s third collaboration with Vijay Raghavendra, an association he says is rooted in trust. “There’s a clear understanding of what I want and what he can deliver,” he says. He adds that Vijay willingly prioritises the film over his image. “Not many actors are open to that,” notes Devi Prasad.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”