Actor Rupeysh must be seeing May 30th as the most important day in his life. Shashtipoorthi, a film he has not only fronted but also produced, heads to theatres on the day. Bankrolled by his MAA AAIE Productions (a production house set up in memory of his mother), the family drama is directed by Pavan Prabha. Co-starring Rajendra Prasad, Aakanksha Singh and Archana, the film holds a message for the family audience.
In this interview, Rupeysh describes the movie's story as very rare in today's times, when most movies are violence-ridden. "When a script with family values came my way, I was thrilled. While being its producer was gratifying, I enjoyed acting in it," he says. Talking about the pre-release business, he says that non-theatrical revenue streams have been robust for the movie. The theatrical release in the Telugu States will be wide.
While Shashtipoorthi is not based on true incidents, each character is so real and relatable. These days, our movies have ceased to portray genuine love. Shashtipoorthi, in total contrast to them, is laced with all the possible emotional breadth and depth. Strong familial elements pervade the entire spectrum of the movie. Shashtipoorthi also presents a tender and meaningful love story—something we rarely see in today’s films. Aakanksha delivered a wonderful performance, and I truly enjoyed working alongside her. We avoided adding any unnecessary elements just for the sake of commercial appeal.
The story was tailor-made for Rajendra Prasad garu's image. I play his son. Since I am unfamiliar to the audience, they would have no set expectations in mind. Director Pavan Prabha was particular about casting a new face. As an actor, I am comfortable doing dramatic and emotional scenes. We held acting workshops before the shoot began. Be it Rajendra Prasad garu, Archana garu, or Ilaiyaraaja garu, they worked with complete dedication. That level of focus is what brought them to where they are today. Watching them work closely has taught me to give my all to anything I take up.
The music is an element that is wholehearted. Maestro Ilaiyaraaja Sir’s work has truly elevated many scenes. The songs and background score in the film will touch the audience. One of the songs has been written by MM Keeravani garu. The music beautifully complements the narrative, and the sensual track sung by Yuvan Shankar Raja is sure to stand out and grab attention.
This story needed A-class technicians. Thota Tharani sir did art direction. Roping him in was part of that process. Yes, the budget did overshoot, but nothing was purposeless. All artists and technicians worked in a cooperative atmosphere.
