Venky Atluri on Collaborations: 'When You Come to Telugu, You Have to Work According to a Telugu Mindset'

Vishwanath and Sons director Venky Atluri recently opened up about the nuances any filmmaker or actor needs to understand before entering a new industry, especially those looking to enter the Telugu film industry. 

Speaking to THR India, Atluri explained how he would adapt if he were to join the Hindi film industry and the limits of his own knowledge of the industry's method of functioning. "I've just worked in Bombay for 11 days, which was for Lucky Baskhar... but that's again a Telugu film. I don't know how people work here. I don't know how the call sheet works here."

If he were to ever work on a Bollywood film, he said, he would take his time to fit into the industry's style of work. "I'll at least take a three-month break. I'll study sets. It’s a very simple old saying; when in Rome, do as the Romans do."

The same principle, Atluri argued, applies the other way around. "It goes the same way for a Hindi actor coming to Telugu cinema. When you come to Telugu, you have to work according to a Telugu mindset."

According to the actor, this means working as the industry does. "The Telugu film industry is very disciplined. We start at 8 o'clock, the usual call sheet starts at 7 am and ends at 6 pm."

Atluri further explained that while such schedules are not rigid, one must be open to negotiating with. "We have different call sheets and multiple options, but we usually work for 11 to 12 hours on the set. And typically for an actor, it's around 10 hours. This is standard for everybody. So, anybody who's coming here, they have to agree to that. Or at least, you know, negotiate with that."

The key to working in Telugu films is to understand and work within that culture. "When a person from any industry, let it be from Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, come and act in a Telugu film, [it's important to] understand the work culture here and maybe respect that culture."

Explaining his point, Atluri recounted an incident from the shoot of Vishwanath and Sons, which stars Raveena Tandon alongside Suriya and Mamitha Baiju. When the last Ooty schedule of the film demanded a challenging shoot of 14 hours with difficult temperatures, Tandon readily agreed to film despite incredibly low Ooty temperatures. "That day she shot from around 10.30 in the morning to 12.30 in the night. So, this is the example that I want to give. Just respect the work culture [of the industry] you're working in."

He tied back to his point, that if he were to direct a Hindi film, the same obligation would fall on him. "I will work according to Bollywood's working conditions. I will learn the conditions. I'll not just jump in and say I'm starting at 8; everybody be here by 8! I'll understand the culture and the working conditions of the 24 crafts... Only then will I start."

Vishwanath and Sons will be released in theatres on August 14.

Watch our full interview with the director on The Hollywood Reporter India's YouTube channel soon