Raj B Shetty: I am a realist who doesn't anticipate viewers to watch all my work.
Actor-director Raj B Shetty has had an eventful year. With a packed schedule of film releases, upcoming projects — including one with his favourite director, Anurag Kashyap, and constant shuttling b...
1
views

Actor-director Raj B Shetty has had a busy year, filled with film releases, upcoming projects, and frequent travel between Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Kerala for shoots. He is excited about this phase of his life and has gained a significant fan following from Kerala, especially after his last film, Turbo, with Mammootty. As a result, Raj now has two more Malayalam films lined up. He describes his workload as being akin to a war zone due to the constant moving around. Despite the lack of relaxation time, Raj is fully immersed in his creative pursuits. He is involved in producing a film with a debutant director, writing and directing projects in both Kannada and Malayalam, and working on a multi-lingual web series. Raj is also set to appear in several acting roles, including in Rakkasapuradol, 45, an unannounced movie, and the Anurag Kashyap film. Despite his packed schedule, Raj maintains that his creativity remains unaffected, as he diligently prepares for his roles and utilizes any spare moment for productive activities. He believes that in striving to create great films, one must be open to any outcome.Several films like 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, expressing a realistic perspective. Despite his expectations, he anticipated a similar response for Swathi... and Roopanthara, foreseeing a better reception on OTT platforms. Recognizing the challenges of getting viewers to attend such films in theaters, he observes that Roopanthara still achieved success by running for three weeks in cinemas. Emphasizing the importance of acceptance and learning from any outcome when making good films, he shares his belief that a film's success provides actors with the opportunity to produce projects that reflect their storytelling aspirations.

Raj B Shetty, who is actively involved in the Malayalam film industry, reflects on the industry's swift production process amidst its recent success streak. Despite maintaining his acting approach, he has embraced new strategies to enhance his character portrayal and engage audiences more convincingly. Raj also comments on the current pan-India film trend, cautioning against labeling it as a definitive success or failure, as such trends continuously evolve. He suggests that the pressure to conform to trends can sometimes blur the line between success and failure, emphasizing the importance of adapting to changes in the dynamic film landscape.Everyone had a tendency to focus on creating large-scale projects, which ultimately led to failure. While it is important to produce big-budget films, this comes with its own set of challenges, such as increased time and resources. Instead, it may be beneficial to have big star-driven films release less frequently, perhaps once every two years, and to fill the gaps with content-rich films that do not necessarily rely on star power. These smaller films should be able to sustain a 4-5 week run in theaters, generating sufficient revenue for both cinema owners and filmmakers. However, the problem lies in the lack of such films being made.

One actor shares how working with Mammootty has been a transformative experience, sparking a newfound hunger for diverse roles. The valuable insights gained from their interactions have been particularly inspiring, especially in terms of character preparation both physically and mentally. The actor feels "inspired" by the knowledge acquired, recognizing that learning is a continuous process, yet the exposure to Mammootty has ignited a deeper passion for acting and exploring varied roles.