Fun unlimited with the Premier Padmini team

Premier Padmini is slated for a release this week and apart from the veteran ensemble cast of Jaggesh, Sudharani and Madhoo Shah, there are three fire brand youngsters who are part of the film — Pramod, Vivek Simha and Hitha Chandrashekar. In an exclusive interview with BT, the three share their fondest memories from the set, recollect their experiences of working with the Navarasa Nayaka and indulge in some fun and games.

Camaraderie on set
Hitha Chandrashekar: Vivek and I have quite a few scenes together and by the time we went to Mysuru for our second schedule, to shoot the song Payanava, we had a good rapport. The song is a youthful number, and we were given the freedom to just have fun. There were scenes in which we had to sit on terraces of high rises and just talk, and people would wonder what we were doing because the cameras were not in plain sight.
Vivek Simha: We used to chat about all sorts of things and even sing songs during those sequences, which were meant to be candid shots.

On working with the Navarasa Nayaka
Vivek: I play Jaggesh sir’s son in the film. I was very nervous on the first day; he is a legendary actor and I was meeting him for the first time. I had intense dialogues with him in that scene, and I kept faltering in the first few takes. He took me aside, asked me to breathe in and out, and said, ‘Be cool, don’t stress out. I am not a big shot, I am an actor, just like you.’ After that my confidence got a boost to a great level and my rapport with him eased out. I now interact with him the way I do with my father.

Pramod: Jaggesh sir constantly kept everyone in good humour. He keeps the set a fun-filled atmosphere and makes us all feel like equals.
Vivek: He used to pulled my leg a lot. Even if I would speak casually with a girl, he would call me and say, “This won’t work out,” and make fun of me. In the beginning, he had said that he had read something about me in the paper, and director Ramesh Indira joined in on the plot, too. I panicked and got worried, because I had no idea what they were talking about. Then I realised that they were pulling my leg.
Pramod: Sir even made fun of Madhoo ma’am and she almost got emotional before he revealed the bluff.

Playing relatable characters
Pramod: My character, Nanjundi, is a driver and this is a role that most drivers will connect to.The thing about the movie is that it is not a thriller or another genre of the sort, but it will keep you engrossed.
Hitha: All the characters are very relatable. You might have not seen such a story on screen, but you will connect to them in real life. They might be a friend, relative or a driver — someone you know.

GAMES SESSION

The team indulged in a few fun questions and got candid about each other’s tendencies in a round of ‘Most Likely To’...

Who is most likely to not shower for a week?
Hitha: I think all of us are very hygienic. Not for a week, but if it is for 2-3 days, I think, it could be Vivek.
Vivek: I have not showered for a month when I was preparing for a character I was in during theatre. I had to get tanned and have disheveled hair. I used just put water on my face and hands... I used to take half-baths.

Who is most likely to see ghosts?
Vivek: I want to see ghosts.
Pramod: Me too.
Vivek: I haven’t seen any, but I want to see the bedsheet getting pulled and the chairs moving.
Hitha: Not me, I am very scared. I don’t watch horror films. I am scared of even the trailers of such films.

Who is most likely to be a heart breaker?
(Vivek and Hitha look at Pramod)
Pramod: When girls propose, what do you say? What can you do? (chuckles)
Vivek: After seeing Premier Padmini, many girls will want a man like him.

Who is most likely to be bad at driving?

Pramod: Even though I play a driver in the film, during shooting, I did not drive well. There were two instances where small mishaps happened.
Vivek Simha: In all fairness, you (Pramod) were driving an old car...
Hitha Chandrashekar: Plus, with that steering wheel, it was like a workout for your arms

Who is most likely to get married next?
Vivek: Sir... (looks at Pramod)
Pramod: No, not me.
Vivek: Hitha is next.
Hitha: You never know...
Pramod and Vivek: We know! (laugh)