"We All Had Fallouts": Dulquer Salmaan & Rana Daggubati's Journey to 'Kaantha' | InFocus | THR India

In an exclusive conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India's Anupama Chopra, actors and producers Dulquer Salmaan and Rana Daggubati open up about their upcoming period drama "Kaantha," directed by Selvamani Selvaraj. The film, set in 1950s Madras and inspired by the life of Tamil cinema's first superstar M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, has been seven years in the making, with Dulquer hearing about it first in 2018-19 and both actors serving as producers through their respective companies, Wayfarer Films and Spirit Media. The duo discusses the marathon six-hour narration sessions with Selvamani, their initial hesitations, and the unique challenges of creating a film-within-a-film that captures the heightened acting style of that era.

The conversation reveals fascinating insights into their creative process, from the fights and delays that marked the production to their shared philosophy as producers who prioritize storytelling over commercial formulas. Dulquer reflects on his successful 2024 film "Lucky Baskhar" and shares his eclectic list of favorite films including "Good Will Hunting," "A Good Year," and "Bangalore Days," while Rana discusses lessons learned from director S.S. Rajamouli during the five-year journey of making "Baahubali." Both actors emphasize their commitment to creating original, authentic cinema that respects audience intelligence, with Rana playing a no-nonsense cop named Phoenix whose character was discovered on set, and Dulquer portraying the complex role of a 1950s superstar navigating fame, ego, and betrayal.