Supriya, daughter don't like it: 'Empuraan' director Prithviraj talks about family’s disapproval

At the trailer launch of his upcoming film 'Empuraan', actor and director Prithviraj Sukumaran  spoke about his journey into filmmaking, his inspirations, and the challenges he faces as a director.

Prithviraj began by acknowledging that those who dream big are often seen as a bit "crazy".

He shared his personal experience, saying, "People who dream big seem to be a bit crazy.Until now, I used to say with some confidence that there's nobody as crazy as me. But there is really someone crazier than me, Antony Perumbavoor."

Referring to his producer, Prithviraj continued, "Since the idea of the film was mentioned, the person who understood this the most was Antony Perumbavoor. The script was first read to Antony and Lalettan at Aashirvad's office in Dubai. Lalettan's response was, 'Antony, this kid is talking about five or six helicopters.' But Antony understood this film from the narration that day."

Prithviraj also revealed the personal struggles he faces when it comes to balancing his family life with his passion for directing.

His wife, Supriya, and his daughter are not fond of the idea of him directing films due to the long time he has to spend away from home.

"Supriya and my daughter don't like me directing films. Because at that time, I have to be away from home for many days. Since the process is like that, I have to be away from my family for months. If it's acting, I can go home on a day when there is no shooting." he said.

"My daughter asks me whether acting or directing is the next thing. If I say it's directing, she’d react, 'Oh, gone again!'"

Though Prithviraj is still relatively new to the world of direction, he made it clear that he's not intimidated by the challenges.

“I’m still a beginner who is only making my third film. People will say that I have not studied film direction. However, I have learned a lot about filmmaking.”

He shared how he’s been learning on the job while working with other directors.

"I was learning filmmaking while working with the directors here, and every day, every scene and every shot on their sets was like a tuition for me."

One of the things that Prithviraj cherishes most about his filmmaking journey is having the support of a producer who truly believes in his vision.

He expressed his gratitude to Antony Perumbavoor, saying, “My biggest strength is that I have a producer who understands my film and stands by it. Thank you for putting up with me.”

He also shared how sometimes he feels uncertain about the journey. “I sometimes ask, ‘Where is this going?’ But after this film, I want to do another big film.”

When talking about 'Empuraan', Prithviraj acknowledged that the film’s international setting has led people to wonder whether Hollywood films served as his inspiration. He clarified that, in fact, his inspirations come from directors of Malayalam industry itself.

"Joshi sir, Shaji sir, Sathyan sir and Sibi sir who are sitting here are my inspirations," he said.