Neel: Given a Chance I Wouldn’t Make KGF or Salaar

In a surprising revelation, Prashanth Neel, the brain behind blockbusters like KGF and Salaar, confessed that his own filmic preference is extremely different from the high-octane action films he produces.

A weaver of larger-than-life tales, Neel admitted he wouldn’t normally watch his own movies on TV. Given a choice, he’d want to produce mind-bending thrillers like Inception or family dramas like Hum Aapke Hain Koun.

But Neel embraced the business truths of the South Indian film industry, where mass entertainers call the shots at the box office.

This has led him to focus on making action-packed spectacles that appeal to the masses. His upcoming ventures, NTR31 (working title Dragon) and Salaar: Part 2 – Shouryanga Parvam, will continue his streak of people’s hits.

Neel’s open admission highlights the dilemma between artistic taste and commercial viability in filmmaking. Although he is not getting to make the films that he himself enjoys, his promise of always churning out blockbusters has cemented him as one of the best directors of Indian cinema.

It’s a credit to his versatility and sense of both art and audience that sometimes the best artists are the ones able to balance their desires with the needs of the box office.