Yuva Rajkumar and Rohit Padaki interview: ‘Ekka' is a product of great planning

The Hindu

2 days ago

Seldom does a reasonably big-budget Kannada film — like the upcoming Yuva Rajkummar-starrerEkka — get ready for release within just seven months of commencing shoot. The film, which marks the coming together of three prominent production houses, KRG Studios, PRK Productions, and Jayanna Films, is directed by Rohit Padaki.
'You need great planning to pull it off. I finished writing in September 2024, and pre-production work started with script reading and workshops for actors in October. We planned day and night till we went to shoot on January 01, 2025,' says Padaki about his third directorial, set to hit the screens on July 18. 'You also need to have a great vibe on the sets of the film. Most of the films are delayed because people don't communicate and get along well with each other,' he reasons.
Ekka is the sophomore film of Yuva, billed as the next star in Sandalwood, who debuted with Yuva last year. 'Yuva came to this project as an open book. He wasn't conscious of building any image. He was ready to do what the character demanded. He is mature, speaks valid points, and has an innocent approach to life. I liked that a lot,' says Padaki.
Meanwhile, Yuva explains that while he read a lot of scripts for his sophomore outing, he saw a spark in the story of Ekka that convinced him. After all, a lot is riding on the youngster , especially since Yuva was an underwhelming debut for the actor who hails from the Dr Rajkumar family. While the film was dismissed as a bland campus drama, Yuva was criticised for his acting. 'If somebody criticises my work, I take it as a positive. It means that they think I am important and expect me to improve. Also, I don't take criticism and praise seriously. Even if people love me in Ekka, I won't make a big deal about it. My goal is to get better as an actor with each film,' he offers.
The caption in the teaser of Ekka reads, 'In the heart of mayhem, innocence screams the loudest.' Padaki describes his film as a journey of a man trying to retain his innocence. 'We often see people from small towns finding it difficult to adjust to big cities. They come to these cities with a sense of innocence, and gradually, their personality changes drastically. It becomes a battle of survival in a big town for them. That's what my film is about,' he explains.
In his debut, Yuva played a gig worker; he portrayed the toil of a food delivery person. Did Ekka push him to think from the perspective of those struggling to adapt to the unpredictable work conditions? 'I play a cab driver in the movie. Cab drivers are some of the hardest-working people. They work for than 20 hours, don't have a proper house, and even eat at odd hours. I travelled in cabs and spoke to several drivers as part of the preparation for the character. One common aspect among them is the dream to achieve something big.'
A section of Puneeth Rajkumar fans expect Yuva to fill the void left by the superstar, who passed away tragically at the age of 45 in 2021 due to a cardiac arrest. Yuva says he can never replace his uncle. 'I understand that people are slightly reminded of him when they see me. We might have some facial resemblances because we are from the same family. However, it's impossible to fill the void left by him. I can only think of enhancing my own identity and reputation with my work. That said, he (Puneeth) would act in a certain number of films a year, ensuring work for so many people in the industry. That's the void that I and other upcoming actors must try to fill. We must do more films for the benefit of the industry,' opines Yuva.
Padaki says one of the biggest lessons from Ekka is the advantage of collaborating with young actors. 'It's easier to shoot movies quickly with young actors. For instance, 90 per cent of Ekka was shot on live locations. The entire film takes place in the heart of Bengaluru. It would have been impossible to plan such a movie with big stars due to the fans who mob them.'
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You don't often see three producers collaborating for a film in the Kannada film industry. 'If three banners are involved in funding a project, the shoot will run smoothly,' points out Padaki. 'When the producers are so responsive, it becomes your responsibility to finish the project on time. Almost every day, we shot in different locations. Imagine shooting in 70 locations in 70 days! The production team has to be on top of their game in such a scenario. Not once did we go to sets clueless, and we are happy with how the film has come out,' he adds.