My horror film also will be full entertainer: Prabhu Dheva

Prabhu Dheva believes in getting first-hand audience reactions, for which he quietly visits theatres after his films release and this time too, he did the same. In a chat with TOI, he talks about the audience's response to 'R...Rajkumar', critics' comments and why he believes that his genre of films will never die. Excerpts:

Critics panned R...Rajkumar, but the audience has given it a thumbs up...
I can understand some people like a film, some don't and I respect everyone's views. But there was a lot of criticism when the film had just released. Then Friday, Saturday, Sunday saw a good response at the box office and then, when the film was holding well even on Monday, Tuesday and thereafter, we felt why was there so much criticism, especially in Mumbai. If a film is really bad, even we can make out with our years of experience. But here, the audience is clapping, whistling, laughing... I was so thrilled when I quietly went to the theatres and saw it for myself. For us, the audience is God. We make films for them and they have proved once again that they love entertainment. I feel that if people write about a film, then they should also write about the audience response. The claps Shahid Kapoor gets during his entry and then throughout the film is amazing and for me, it's important that my hero is accepted because the rest will follow.

What are the kind of films that you like to watch?
Spider-Man, The Avengers, Mission Impossible, The Terminator, Predator, Rambo, Lord Of The Rings...

So, it's action all the way for you?
Actually, it's entertainment. In my films, they say the action sequences are very local and not international. But why should I copy from English films? I want it to be Indian and our audience is also happy with it. A Korean or an Iranian film gets recognition worldwide because they show what's happening in their land.

You are known as the masala king...
What is this masala king? (laughs). I make films for people to smile, laugh and have fun. When there's a song, they should feel like dancing, when there's comedy, they should be a part of it. Basically, after watching the film, a person should come out feeling all charged up and that's what people say they are feeling after watching R...Rajkumar. Tomorrow, if I make a horror film, even that will be full-on entertainment. We are all very happy with the response... the producer, Shahid, Sonakshi, everyone.

With the audience's taste constantly changing, do you see a market for your kind of films always?
There have been so many James Bond movies, Spider-Man films, Mission Impossible series etc. Is there any difference in the basic story? Yet, each time there's a release, people are excited. That's because even though the premise remains the same, it's packaged differently. Tom Cruise, for a long time, has been doing action movies, but nobody asks him, 'Sir, what will you do if this genre dies?' Why then do we ask that here? There's space for all kinds of films if they are made well. A 'Vicky Donor' runs, 'Barfi' runs, so also 'Rowdy Rathore' and now 'R...Rajkumar'.

Ironically, the first Telugu film you directed did not have action at all?
It was in fact an out-an-out romantic film. Actually, even R...Rajkumar, which is a two-hour-20-minute film, has only 12 minutes of action. The remaining is only about love.

Are you a romantic?
Who is not? You, me... we all are. Of course, I can't be one on the set (laughs), but yes, my thoughts are reflected in my films. Romance is also about being happy, feeling good. I tell everyone to take it easy and live in the moment.