Dinakar Thoogudeepa makes his return to directing with the film Royal, a vibrant commercial entertainer featuring Viraat, known for his role in Kiss, alongside Sanjana Anand in leading roles. This project came to the director after his initial plans to work with Puneeth Rajkumar were disrupted due to the untimely passing of the Power Star. “Producer Jayanna informed me of his five-film agreement with Viraat and inquired if I would be interested in directing one of them. Raghu Nidavalli, a well-respected dialogue writer in the Kannada film industry, presented a story that resonated with me and seemed perfectly suited for Viraat. I collaborated with my team to develop the screenplay for the film before commencing production,” he explains.

Dinakar: Viraat has no fixed image; it was like working with a blank canvas

It can be seen as restrictive for a filmmaker to create a narrative specifically for an actor rather than selecting a cast that aligns with the script's needs. "I have consistently chosen the cast for my films only after finalizing the story, selecting actors who can authentically portray the characters. The exception was Saarathi, where the narrative was tailored for Darshan. Royal, on the other hand, was crafted specifically for Viraat. Unlike Saarathi, where we had to incorporate elements to please Darshan's fans, Viraat presented a unique opportunity as there was no preconceived image to adhere to. It felt akin to working on a blank canvas," Dinakar explains.

He further elaborates, "Viraat is an exceptional dancer, as demonstrated in Kiss, so I could not depict him in a role that was drastically different. It was essential to retain a hint of what audiences appreciated in Kiss within Royal as well. However, collaborating with someone who is relatively new allowed me to explore various ideas to shape his public persona. My thought process was that if Royal outperforms Kiss at the box office, future producers working with Viraat would have greater confidence in his marketability."

Thus, the strategy for Royal was to highlight his appealing presence, impressive dancing skills, and competent acting abilities, according to Dinakar. "In the first half, which features the romantic storyline, we have included elements that fans who enjoyed him in Kiss would anticipate. However, the goal was to demonstrate that this is not the same Viraat they previously encountered in Kiss, but rather a more mature version. To achieve this, we incorporated certain commercial aspects to present him in a new light," he concludes.

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