When Rajkumar reached the set, it felt as if Srikanth had arrived: Director Tushar said – wanted to make the film before ‘Saand Ki Aankh’
Rajkumar Rao starrer film ‘Srikanth’ is based on the life of blind industrialist Shrikant Bolla. He founded Bolant Industries. This company offers job options for unskilled and disabled people. The film depicts Srikanth’s extraordinary story of perseverance and achievement that will inspire people. Rajkumar Rao has played the role of ‘Srikanth’ in the film with so much enthusiasm that when he came on the set for the first time, everyone felt that Srikanth had arrived. Apart from Rajkumar Rao, Jyotika, Alaya F and Sharad Kelkar are in lead roles in this film of director Tushar Hiranandani. This film is released in theaters on 10 May. Director Tushar Hiranandani and producer Nidhi Parmar talked to Dainik Bhaskar about this film. We do not make big budget films, but big films. After the film ‘Saand Ki Aankh’ and the web series ‘Scam 2003’, director Tushar Hiranandani’s film ‘Srikanth’ has been released. During the conversation, Tushar Hiranandani said – We do not make big films, but big films on big concepts. Our thinking is such that we can be proud of the film we make. If people start liking such films and the audience starts coming to the theatre, then it will be a very good thing. ‘Srikanth’ was going to make this film before ‘Saand Ki Aankh’. Tushar Hiranandani said – We were going to make this film before ‘Saand Ki Aankh’. When the idea of making a film on Srikanth came, the rights of this film were with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. I called Shrikant several times, but could not reach him. During this time we started ‘Saand Ki Aankh’. After the release of ‘Saand Ki Aankh’, Rajkumar Rao played the role of Srikanth in the film Trisha again. Tushar Hiranandani said- Before writing the script, I do not think about what the cast will be. When the script was completed, everyone who listened was suggesting Rajkummar Rao’s name. When I met Rajkumar Rao, he liked the subject very much. The specialty of Rajkumar Rao is that he gives his feedback very honestly. Rajkumar went to blind school with Rao. Before the shooting of the film, Rajkumar went to many blind schools. All the blind children we saw were very confident. I was a little nervous about the fact that Rajkumar. How will you look in the role of Srikanth? But when he came on the set for the first time, people thought that Srikanth had arrived. Rajkummar Rao met Srikanth a month before the shooting and modeled himself in Srikanth’s look. He never looked like Rajkumar Rao during the entire shooting of the film. Jyotika had done a film before ‘Shaitan’. Even before Ajay Devgan’s film ‘Shaitan’, Jyotika had signed ‘Srikanth’. Tushar Hiranandani told- Surya had also read the script of the film and he also liked the script. However, it was Jyotika’s decision to do the film. She was not doing Hindi films for a long time, so ‘Srikanth’ was her first Hindi film, for which she agreed. Srikanth’s determination will inspire him. During the conversation, Tushar Hiranandani said – The specialty of this film is that we have not shown any weakness in it. I didn’t want tears of pity in the film. We did not want people to cry over the helplessness of blind people after watching the film. The film depicts Srikanth’s extraordinary story of perseverance and achievement that will inspire people. Producer Nidhi Parmar, who lost her loved ones during the making of the film, said – Starting this film was the biggest challenge. We wanted to start this film before Covid. But many troubles arose. I lost my father during the making of the film. Tushar Hiranandani said- Releasing the film was a big task for me. The release date was postponed several times. I was very frustrated. I lost my mother. At that time I could not understand what was happening? Once we started shooting, everything started falling into place. There was a shooting schedule of 60 days, we completed it in 45 days. Nidhi Parmar was impressed by Jyothika’s generosity. She said – When Jyotika was shooting in Hyderabad, many people came to meet her on the set. Jyothika called her team members in the vanity van and said send everyone one by one to get a photo clicked with everyone. Food was also ordered for the entire unit on the same day. I really liked the way he managed everything. Rajkumar’s acting has been mind blowing.