EXCLUSIVE: Jagapathi Babu ECSTATIC with the response to Salaar; credits ‘Prabhas MANIA’ for box office success; calls Salman Khan a ‘Superman’: “In 2016, I expressed a desire to work with Salman bhai…Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan was a dream come true”

By Fenil Seta -

December 28, 2023 - 3:38 PM IST

The stylish and talented actor Jagapathi Babu was ecstatic as he spoke exclusively with Bollywood Hungama from the USA about Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire and a lot more.

EXCLUSIVE: Jagapathi Babu ECSTATIC with the response to Salaar; credits ‘Prabhas MANIA’ for box office success; calls Salman Khan a ‘Superman’: “In 2016, I expressed a desire to work with Salman bhai…Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan was a dream come true”

Despite limited screen time, the way the scenes are designed around your character is very commendable. How has been the feedback?
What you said is perfectly right. Though my screen time is not great, I am there in the movie the way the director Prashanth Neel promised. I was waiting for a solid break and I got one. The character has been depicted so nicely that I am really thrilled with it!

I have been thirsty for a good character and I got one that too with Prabhas whom I really love as an actor. He’s also a great human being. I am amazed with the collections. I think it’s the Prabhas mania that is happening at the box office.

Yes, and it’s also Prashanth Neel's mania at work. His name also pulled in the audience thanks to the super-success of KGF…
Prashanth Neel is like a magician. I told him, ‘I don’t have many scenes’. He replied, ‘But the film is mostly about you’. I didn’t take him seriously. But when I saw the film, I was thrilled to bits to know that my character was given such importance. I felt great about it.

Were you amazed by the world and politics of Khansaar when you heard the narration?
I’ll be honest with you. I first met Prashanth when he was with Yash. I really liked his cool attitude and I wanted to work with him. But I am the kind of a person who’ll not disturb a saint. Nevertheless, I expressed my wish and he took it lightly. One day, he told me that he wanted me to do a role in Salaar. I was on instantly. He narrated my character. He didn’t narrate the script because I wouldn’t have understood it anyway (laughs)! The amusing part was that for the first three days of the shoot, I thought the film was set in the 1800s. Then on the fourth day, I saw choppers and sten guns! I asked Prashanth, ‘What is happening?’ He was confused. I expressed my dilemma. He simply said, ‘This is cinema, sir. It’ll be like cinema’!

He’s very sure about what he does and everything was done in a single take. There was no second take, that too for complicated shots. The DOP Bhuvan Gowda was amazing. Everything went on smoothly. I took the film lightly. I didn’t know it'd become so huge.

Also, Hombale Films went head-on and were confident about what they were doing. Making these films is not a joke. But they handled it smoothly. I am glad the film worked for them.

Do you check social media? Are you flooded with messages?
I am sort of active on social media. I am very bad with technology (smiles). Moreover, I am in the USA and hence, I am missing most of the fun.

What can we expect from your character in part 2?
The other day, Prabhas was telling me, ‘You are too good. Part 2 is totally on you! I am looking forward to you getting a good name’. I humbly replied, ‘I am waiting for it’ (smiles).

You were earlier seen in the Salman Khan-starrer Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan this year. Do you think this film helped you in increasing your reach in the Hindi-speaking market?
Firstly, I’d like to wish Salman bhai a belated happy birthday. Happy birthday to the superman! In 2016, I gave a statement in the papers that I wanted to work with Salman bhai as my first film in Bollywood. That’s what happened in 2022 (smiles). It was a dream come true. He’s an amazing person too. Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan got a mileage because of Salman bhai and for me, it served as an entry into Bollywood.

It seems you have had a fulfilling year…
In 2023, after a lot of years, Salaar broke the spell for me. And on December 29, my Kannada film Kaatera will be released, co-starring Darshan. That film will be a super-hit; I can say that even before it’s released. In other words, with Salaar, I got my Christmas gift and with Kaatera, I'll get my New Year’s gift!

You will also be seen in Pushpa 2, a film which has the potential of becoming the biggest grosser of 2024…
Yes. Sukumar and my combination have worked big time in two films before - Nannaku Prematho (2016) and Rangasthalam (2018). I am always lucky for him. He gives me the best characters.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Prithviraj Sukumaran reveals Prabhas checked on him everyday on the sets of Salaar: “He would ask, ‘Shall I send some food? Are you okay?’”