Bengaluru: Director Suri has stepped away from his much-anticipated collaboration with actor Dhruva Sarja after months of script development and pre-production, citing prolonged delays in the project’s timeline. Despite the setback, the filmmaker has clarified that the commercial entertainer has not been shelved and remains intended for Dhruva whenever the actor is able to fully commit to it.
The film, which had generated considerable buzz in Sandalwood, was expected to be backed by Goldmines Telefilms, the banner currently producing Dhruva Sarja’s upcoming film Criminal.
Delays prompted the decision
Confirming the development, Suri said the project had reached an advanced stage of preparation before repeated scheduling delays forced him to move on.
According to the director, cinematographer Satya Hegde introduced him to Dhruva Sarja, after which the team began working extensively on the film.
“We prepared everything—from a bound English script and character sketches to the budget, schedules and overall planning. All of it was submitted to the production house, and after several meetings, we were ready to begin,” Suri said.
However, Dhruva’s ongoing commitments, particularly Criminal, have taken longer than anticipated, delaying the start of the project.
“After KD, Dhruva has been occupied with Criminal, and that is taking more time than expected. As a team, we felt the atmosphere was not allowing us to move forward. There is investment, there is time involved, and I cannot keep giving reasons for delays. My team also has to be taken care of. At some point, I had to take a stand,” he explained.
Project remains meant for Dhruva
Although Suri has stepped away for now, he emphasised that the film has not been abandoned and continues to be written specifically for Dhruva Sarja.
The filmmaker revealed that script-reading sessions with the actor had already taken place and the production was nearly ready to go on floors.
“We were ready for the shoot. I had script reading sessions with Dhruva, and we had almost completed everything needed to begin filming,” Suri said.
He added that he still hopes to make the film with Dhruva once the actor completes his existing commitments.
“This subject is meant for Dhruva Sarja, and I still want to make it with him. He is genuinely interested in working with me, but it should happen only when he can completely commit himself to our film. I want him to finish his current responsibilities first, and when the time is right, we will return to this project,” the director said.
Suri shifts focus to next venture
With the collaboration temporarily on hold, Suri is now turning his attention to another project. The filmmaker hinted that his long-pending idea, Kaage Bangara, could finally move forward.
“I will soon come back with interesting details about my next film,” he said, adding that he remains optimistic despite the delay.
“We have a fantastic script. Every hurdle teaches you something. I believe every long gap leads to something better. Even if I don’t have a film on the floors, I am always working around cinema,” Suri noted.
Filmmaker on changing audience expectations
Reflecting on the evolving film industry, Suri said audiences have become more discerning and expect filmmakers to deliver meaningful stories rather than relying on hype.
“Today, people have lost faith. With AI, there is a lot of suspicion. You cannot bluff people anymore. Audiences are watching everything closely. They have developed good taste, and they are looking for strong content and honest concepts. That is what filmmakers have to deliver,” he said.
Conclusion
While fans may have to wait longer for Suri and Dhruva Sarja’s collaboration, the director has made it clear that the project remains alive and will move forward once the actor is available. In the meantime, Suri is preparing to announce his next directorial venture while continuing to develop fresh stories for the big screen.
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