Dev Gill, who impressed audiences with his diverse roles and charismatic performances in several South Indian films, including the blockbuster “Magadheera,” is now testing his luck as a hero in “Aho! Vikramaarka.” Directed by SS Rajamouli’s co-director Peta Trikoti and produced by Dev Gill Productions, the film is slated for release on August 30. In a recent media interaction, director Trikoti shared his insights:
- “I worked as a co-director on ‘Magadheera,’ and that’s when I first came into contact with Dev Gill. I used to help him practice his dialogues, and we developed a good relationship. Dev Gill has always wanted to act as a hero, but I didn’t take it seriously at the time. While working on ‘RRR,’ Dev Gill presented a film proposal and even opened an office in Pune.
- Dev Gill is often associated with villainous roles, so we deliberated on what genre would suit him as a hero. We concluded that a family or emotional story might not be suitable. Eventually, we decided that a powerful police officer would be a better fit for the story. The script, written by Varma, who also worked with Vijayendra Prasad, is brilliant, and Dev Gill contributed his own inputs.
- The film’s plot involves a police officer being transferred from Andhra to Pune, which helps the story resonate with audiences across various regions, including Hindi, Marathi, and Telugu-speaking viewers.
- The heroine plays a significant role in the film, portraying a lecturer. We cast Chitra Shukla, a Telugu actress, who has performed admirably.
- I’ve tailored this story as a commercial film for Dev Gill. While my previous work, like ‘Rammayya,’ was well-received, ‘Juvva’ didn’t make as strong an impact. This is my third film, and I’m eager to see how it performs.
- Initially, we considered several composers for the film’s music, from Bollywood and Tollywood. At one point, we even thought of approaching MM Keeravani garu, but Dev Gill’s acquaintance Ravi Basrur was eventually brought on board. He listened to the story, saw the film, and agreed it was a good commercial project. He took some time but delivered exceptional music.
- The story focuses on the transformation of a villain into a hero, with a touch of motherly sentiment. The action sequences are impressive, with Real Satish choreographing the fights to great effect.”
