Actor-director Raj B Shetty has been quite busy this year, juggling film releases, upcoming projects, and shoots in various locations like Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Kerala. He is excited about this phase in his life, especially after gaining a significant fan base in Kerala following the success of his film Turbo with Mammootty. Raj acknowledges that he has never been busier and describes his schedule as feeling like a war zone. Despite the hectic pace, he is fully invested in his creative pursuits.
Regarding his workload, Raj mentions that he is occupied with producing a film, writing scripts for multiple projects, including a multi-lingual web series, and acting in various films across different languages. He feels that being so occupied has not hampered his creative process as he plans ahead for his acting roles and uses any available time for other creative endeavors, such as music production and writing.
When asked if the pressure of being so occupied affects his creative output, Raj explains that he manages his time efficiently by preparing for his roles in advance and utilizing breaks on set for other creative tasks. He believes in giving his full attention to each task at hand and making the most of every moment for the creative process.
Reflecting on his philosophy towards filmmaking, Raj emphasizes the importance of being open to any outcome when striving to create a quality film.Several films, including Toby, Swathi Mutthina Male Haniye, and Roopanthara, received critical acclaim but struggled at the box office. The creator acknowledges that they cannot force audiences to watch their films and is not an idealist. They view themselves as a learner and anticipated a similar response for Swathi... as well as Roopanthara. Despite the movies not performing well in theaters, the creator believed in their quality and found success through OTT platforms. They emphasize the importance of being content with any outcome when striving to create a good film. Success in the film industry grants actors the power to produce their own projects and share the stories that resonate with them.
Raj B Shetty, known for his work in the Malayalam film industry, reflects on the industry's fast production pace and recent success. Despite maintaining his approach to acting, he has focused on developing his character portrayals without losing his natural essence. He notes the industry's rapid production process and emphasizes the importance of convincing audiences to appreciate him beyond his appearance. Raj comments on the current trend of pan-Indian films and believes that labeling it as a trend removes the notions of success and failure, emphasizing the ever-changing nature of the industry.Everyone's focus on creating big productions ultimately led to our failure. While big-budget films are important, they require a significant amount of time to produce. Instead of solely relying on blockbuster movies starring big-name actors, we should also prioritize creating content-driven films that can be released between these larger productions. These films should be able to hold their own in theaters for several weeks, generating enough revenue for both the theater owners and filmmakers. Unfortunately, such films are currently lacking due to a lack of initiative in this area.
Reflecting on his experience working with Mammootty, the actor shares, "Collaborating with Mammootty has been incredibly educational for me. Our conversations have been incredibly enlightening, particularly in terms of character preparation - both physically and mentally. I believe 'inspired' would be a more suitable word, as the learning process is ongoing. However, my interactions with him have fueled my ambition for diverse and challenging roles."
