What If..

They Interviewed With GVM? - Part 2

Anushka: He used to visit the sets regularly and pull my leg. The first compliment I got was that I'm an international actress, haha. That I had no expressions on my face.

Prabhas: (giggled) I would tease her saying that, but she used to take it. So, little things like these made me wonder how a person could be so beautiful inside and out.

GVM: So let's talk about stardom. Even before Bahubali, the two of you were extremely successful, and the audiences loved your pair. I believe you worked together on projects continuously, and later Anushka kept working with your production house more than you did. (everyone shares a laugh) How did you manage to keep your relationship status so lowkey in spite of articles, paps, fandoms, and your busy lives?

Anushka: We still wonder how, haha. The people close to us, to be honest, our staff, friends, and family—all cooperated. They respected our choices and helped us keep it lowkey. But before Bahubali we could fly for vacations and just escape from reality. After that--

Prabhas: Yeah, after Bahubali, it has been difficult to roam around freely. Whenever she flew outdoors to visit the sets of my films, we would just hang out with friends. The staff loves her, so they would try to show her around, but still got caught by fans on social media.

GVM: It's very amusing to see fans so involved in their favorite stars' lives. You know, there were articles about the two of you house hunting in the USA and seen on Italian beaches. Also, as technology started developing, they generated AI images and videos of you two. How would such news make you feel?

Prabhas: Actually happy, though I had to answer the press and media during releases, haha. Fans are everything to us. So when they loved seeing us together and showed us so much affection, waiting patiently to hear an announcement for so long, I think it's a blessing.

Anushka: Actually, we used to see those images and think we don't have pictures like these in real life. (she touches Prabhas's hand and smiles) They were so precise!

GVM: You must've seen all of each other's films, so which movies and characters of the other person do you like the most? Is there a movie you would have liked to act together in the recent past?

Anushka: Kalki was my recent favorite character. I was there for the script narration. But from the initial days of his career, my favorites are Billa, Chatrapathi, Darling, and Mirchi. 

Prabhas: It's hard for me to choose; she always selects great scripts, haha. 

Anushka: But you have to tell now (he flashes a grin at her cuteness)

Prabhas: Hmm, I think Arundathi, Singham, Thenmozhi, Rudramadevi, Saroja—that's Vedam, Devasena-- I like many. She has done more than 50 movies, haha. But a movie and character that stuck in my mind the longest was Bhaagamathie. Sweety, which was that movie your mom said we should have acted together in? My mother-in-law recently saw a movie, immediately called Sweety, and was like-- You two should act in a movie like this!

Anushka: Haa (mentions a Kannada romantic mystery-thriller movie title). My family wants us to do a Kannada movie.

GVM: That's right, have you given that a thought?

Anushka: I am waiting for the right script. Now there's no language barrier; we release in all five languages, but it would definitely be nice to shoot a movie in Mangalore, all that.

GVM: The culture and movies from that region are so unique. Kantaara really blew my mind. Do you also practice all those rituals at home?

Anushka: Yes yes. It's called bhootha kola. My family hosts an event every year at my ancestral house in Mangalore.

Prabhas: It's actually very beautiful! I attended it with my friends before we did Mirchi. That was the first time I experienced something like that. There's just so much energy and excitement around you-- it's an experience! My father-in-law, Sweety's dad, knows a lot about those traditions. He explains things very well. We used to stay up until 7-8 in the morning discussing all of this when I visited. He loves Kantaara.

GVM: One more thing I have seen is that both your parents hardly make public appearances. Do they come on set?

Anushka: They occasionally visit film sets and would accompany me in outdoor shoots, but the problem there is budget. If I bring family everywhere, the producers will have to make arrangements for them; that increases responsibility every time. But I would have my staff with me, and they know Prabhas's staff is with me. But his family is a family of actors and producers—one or the other way involved in cinema. I remember the first time I met mavayya (she turns to her husband, who is earnestly watching her speak) Prabhas' dad; it was on the first day of the shoot of Billa. He was a very sweet, soft-spoken person. I went to take blessings when I saw him on the sets, and he would just say a few encouraging words, you know, to boost your confidence and smile. And even my atta garu, she is very humble and soft-spoken. I love being around the family.

GVM: That's wonderful! Did you get any feedback from her on (Anushka's latest release)?

Prabhas: She loves her movies. (chuckles) She, my sisters, and my nieces watched Anushka's last three movies on the first day. But for my movies, they were like—we'll watch it when you screen it in the studio. So I asked my mother—whose mom are you? Mine or hers? Hahaha.

Anushka: She watches the movie and calls me wherever I am to tell me what she liked in it. And she's actually a very good critic—closely observes each scene --

[GVM's attention shifts behind the camera, Anushka and Prabhas's expression noticibly surprised.]

Anushka: Oh, was this a part of the show?!

Prabhas: Who got him here? (He questions his staff who were around them)

GVM: (Chuckles) So, during the break, Pramod garu told me he was here. We figured, why not introduce him on the show?

Prabhas: This fella is trouble, sir, haha.

[Anushka's retriever, Buddy—runs towards his mom and dad and excitedly jumps on Prabhas's lap, licking his face up, while he lovingly pets the golden bundle of joy]

Anushka: His friends back home will be jealous now, haha! Prabhas has two other doggies- Blacky and Blue, and surprisingly, they get along. But when we give Buddy a lot of attention, Blue loses it.

Prabhas: Yeah, Blacky doesn't care. He just wants to be lazy—like me, haha.

[The doggo hops on to Anushka, wagging his tail, greeting the director]

GVM: That's awesome. It's one big family, like Anushka mentioned.

[Buddy explores the marvellous, Morraccan courtyard-- camera zooms out capturing the celebrity couple side by side whole-heartedly smiling at the director who is thanking them for speaking to him on his show]