Actor-director Raj B Shetty has had a busy and eventful year, with a packed schedule of film releases and upcoming projects. He has been shuttling between Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Kerala for shoots, including a collaboration with his favorite director, Anurag Kashyap. Raj has gained a significant fan following in Kerala following the success of his film Turbo with Mammootty. As a result, he has signed on for two more Malayalam films. Raj expresses his excitement about his current phase, despite feeling like he is constantly on the move and comparing it to being in a war zone. He mentions being fully occupied with various projects, including producing, writing, directing films, and acting in multiple roles in different languages. Despite his hectic schedule, Raj emphasizes that he is utilizing every moment for the creative process, whether it's preparing for roles, writing, or collaborating with his music producer during breaks on set. He points out that staying busy has not hindered his creative output, as he is focused and dedicated to each task. Raj's attitude towards filmmaking is summed up in his belief that when striving to create quality work, one must be open to any outcome.Three films, Toby, Swathi Mutthina Male Haniye, and Roopanthara, received critical acclaim but failed to perform well at the box office. The filmmaker acknowledges that he cannot compel audiences to watch his films and expresses his perspective, stating that he is not an idealist and does not expect audiences to watch everything he creates. He views himself as a learner and anticipated a similar response for Swathi Mutthina Male Haniye and Roopanthara upon their release. He believed that these films would receive a better response on OTT platforms, which turned out to be true. Despite Roopanthara being a great film, he acknowledges that audiences may not be inclined to watch such films in theaters, but considers it a success as it ran for three weeks on the big screen. He emphasizes that when one aims to create a good film, they should be prepared for any outcome.
In terms of an actor's perspective, the success of a film can provide significant influence and the ability to produce one's own projects. This opportunity allows actors to tell the stories they have always wanted to bring to life. Raj B Shetty reflects on the rapid production phase in the Malayalam film industry and shares his observations on the recent wave of successful films from the industry. He notes that his acting approach remains consistent, which has garnered him love and acceptance from Malayalam filmmakers and fans. However, he has started focusing on portraying characters authentically while retaining his natural demeanor, aiming to engage audiences on a deeper level.
Commenting on the pan-India trend in filmmaking, Raj emphasizes that labeling something as a trend removes the concepts of success and failure, as trends are constantly evolving. He warns that today's perceived success could turn into the biggest failure and suggests that the problem lies in defining success and failure in the ever-changing industry landscape.There was a trend of favoring big productions which ultimately led to failure. The suggestion is to focus on producing big-budget films while also prioritizing smaller, content-driven movies that can be released in between. These smaller films, without star power, should aim to sustain in theaters for 4-5 weeks to benefit both theater owners and filmmakers. The lack of such films in the industry is a concern that needs attention. A quote from the individual mentions that working alongside Mammootty provided valuable learning experiences that fueled a strong desire for diverse acting roles. The interactions with Mammootty inspired the individual to prepare comprehensively for roles both physically and mentally, enhancing their passion for acting.
