Director Sudha Kongara on Working with Akshay Kumar for Sarfira: Overcoming Challenges and Finding Common Ground

After the resounding success of the Tamil film Soorarai Pottru, director Sudha Kongara is all set for its Hindi remake titled Sarfira, featuring Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar in the lead role. However, their journey together didn’t start off as smoothly as expected, as revealed by Sudha in a recent interview where she candidly discussed the initial challenges she faced during the shoot.

The Initial Hurdles

In her conversation with Galatta Plus, Sudha Kongara opened up about the difficulties encountered during the first week of filming with Akshay Kumar. She expressed her desire for Akshay to emulate the performance of Suriya from the original film rather than bringing his own interpretation to the character. This approach initially unsettled Akshay, who was accustomed to his own method of acting.

“Suriya is Suriya,” Sudha remarked, highlighting her long-standing rapport with the Tamil superstar. “I have known him for over 25 years, which makes communication easier and more informal. But with Akshay sir, it was different. It was our first meeting, and there was a formal ‘sir’ aspect to it. I have no filters, so it was a straightforward interaction. In the first six days, he wasn’t pleased. He questioned, ‘What is this girl making me do all this rubbish?'”

Finding Common Ground

The situation improved when Akshay Kumar and the producers approached Sudha with their concerns. Sudha then decided to give Akshay more creative freedom, acknowledging that she had envisioned the character too rigidly based on her experience with Suriya.

“After six days, I showed Akshay a cut of a scene,” Sudha continued. “The next day, he approached me and explained, ‘I have my own method and process, but I’m trying to understand your vision.’ That moment marked a turning point. We found common ground and began enjoying our collaboration. I truly cherished working with him. He often remarks, ‘She doesn’t hold back.'”

Journey from Soorarai Pottru to Sarfira

Soorarai Pottru received widespread acclaim for its portrayal of GR Gopinath, the founder of Indian low-cost airline Deccan. The film garnered accolades at the National Film Awards and was even selected for the Golden Globe Awards. Its Hindi adaptation, Sarfira, promises to bring this compelling narrative to a broader audience, with Akshay Kumar leading alongside Paresh Rawal and Radhika Madan.

Conclusion

As Sarfira gears up for its theatrical release on July 12, the journey of director Sudha Kongara and actor Akshay Kumar serves as a testament to the collaborative spirit of filmmaking. Despite initial challenges, their mutual respect and dedication to their craft enabled them to create something special. Stay tuned for more updates as Sarfira prepares to hit the silver screen, promising audiences a compelling cinematic experience.