“Kaanta is a Once-in-a-Lifetime Film… It’s a Celebration of Cinema” – Dulquer Salmaan & Rana Daggubati
Kaanta, one of the most-awaited period dramas starring Dulquer Salmaan, is set for a grand release on November 14. Directed by Selvamani Selvaraj, the film features Rana Daggubati and Samuthirakani in crucial roles, while Bhagya Shree Borse plays the female lead.
The film is jointly produced by Dulquer Salmaan’s Wayfarer Films Pvt. Ltd. and Rana Daggubati’s Spirit Media.
With its teaser, trailer, and songs receiving an exceptional response, Kaanta has already created a strong buzz.
Ahead of the release, Dulquer and Rana interacted with the press and shared several interesting insights about the film.
“This is Not a Biopic… It’s a Fictional Story About the Dark Side of Greatness” – Rana Daggubati
There are rumours that the film is a biopic. Is that true?
“No, not at all. Kaanta is entirely fictional. These days, anything that happens inside a studio becomes public instantly. But decades ago, several stories happened behind the scenes—stories that very few knew about.
We took inspiration from that era.
It’s not based on one particular incident, but rather on the dark side of great artists—the clashes between two brilliant creative minds fighting for their artistic supremacy.”
(Laughs) “It’s not anyone’s grandfather’s story!”
“We’re premiering the film today in Madras. Once people watch it, everything will be clear.”
“There’s a Reason We Chose the 1950s Backdrop” – Rana
“The 50s was an era where music, literature, and craftsmanship had unmatched value. Today, we live in a short-content era where everything gets accepted instantly.
But that time was different—there was precision, depth, and perfection.
Setting our story in that period naturally brings a sense of romance and mystery.
Only cinema has the power to recreate a time.
Back then, we didn’t have big studios here; everything happened in Madras.
Recreating that studio culture felt exciting and nostalgic.”
“I Never Saw This as a Biopic… The Story Itself Hooked Me” – Dulquer Salmaan
When asked if the trailer gave him a biopic vibe, Dulquer said:
“Not at all. The story was very clear. I loved the narration, and that was enough for me.
Even when audiences watch it, they’ll experience it as a compelling fictional story.”
“Suresh Babu Garu Gave Us Valuable Inputs” – Rana
“Yes, I narrated the story to him. He watched the film too and was very happy.
Since he spent a lot of time in the early studio era, his insights were extremely useful for us.”
“There’s No Reference for My Character… It’s Pure Magic” – Dulquer
“In Mahanati, we had some references. But in Kaanta, there was no reference at all.
The director and I discussed the character at length, and slowly a sort of magic emerged.
Working with performers like Rana, Samuthirakani, and Bhagya Shree created a beautiful on-set synergy.”
“Kaanta Is One of the Most Special Films of My Career” – Dulquer
“Films like Kaanta happen only once in an actor’s lifetime.
You can never recreate such an experience.
Rana and I knew instantly after the narration that we must do this film.
Every character has a unique energy.
It’s a rare cinematic experience. I truly believe audiences will feel something extraordinary in theatres.”
“We Even Searched for Artists to Hand-Paint the Posters” – Rana
“Selva narrated the story to me first. The moment I heard it, I knew Dulquer was the perfect fit.
After meeting him, everything aligned seamlessly.
We designed every element of the film very carefully—right down to hiring artists specifically to create authentic hand-painted posters.”
About Director Selva
“He narrates beautifully and has the perfect passion a first-time filmmaker needs.
He researched everything extensively and had a strong grip over that period and world.”
“Kaanta’s Music Is a Discovery in Itself” – Rana
“The film is set in the 1950s, so the music had to sound authentic to that era, yet appeal to today’s audiences.
Achieving that balance was a big challenge, but the team delivered beautifully.
The songs and background score elevate the film tremendously.”
Why Bhagya Shree Borse?
“That was director Selva’s choice. He spent nearly six months searching for the right face.
Initially, she looked very modern for the part.
But after Dulquer performed a test scene with her, we knew she was perfect.
Her performance is extremely classy, and within the first 10 minutes of the film, you’ll be completely immersed in that world.”
“Acting with Dulquer Made the Film Even More Special” – Rana
“We both love cinema deeply and always wanted to work together.
Kaanta finally gave us that moment.
My character is crazy, entertaining, and full of life.
This film is a celebration for both of us.”
“Yes, You’ll See the Camera Used for Pathala Bhairavi!”
“We managed to bring in rare equipment and original pieces used in legendary film sets.
When you see them onscreen, you’ll be surprised and delighted—especially the camera that was used for Pathala Bhairavi.”
“Period Films Are a Huge Challenge, But Selva’s Vision Made It Possible” – Rana
“Mass commercial films are one thing.
But recreating a specific time, with human emotions at the core, is a completely different challenge.
Selva’s clarity and vision helped us achieve it beautifully.”
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