Dev Patel is gearing up for the release of his directorial debut Monkey Man. To promote the film he recently conducted a Reddit AMA session and talked about Monkey Man, the inspiration behind it and his admiration for Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan.
During the session, when a fan asked about his favourite Bollywood films and if any inspired Monkey Man, Patel straightforwardly answered, “Anything Shah Rukh Khan does.”
The actor/director revealed that he had a hard time trying to keep the project running amid the pandemic. He revealed that the challenges he faced also included equipment failures and the necessity to film scenes using his mobile phone and GoPros.
When another fan asked about the most difficult part about the project, Patel had an answer ready. He was asked, “Given that writing an original screenplay is very time-consuming and mentally taxing, what would you say was the most challenging part of the process?” Dev in response said, “Editing! It was a very complicated puzzle to put together – especially the TABLA TRAINING MONTAGE.”
SEE ALSO: Priyanka Chopra Sternly Says ‘Stop It’ When Photographers Ask For Solo Amid Mannara Chopra’s Birthday Bash
Monkey Man is set to release globally in the first week of April. The film also stars Bollywood actress Shobita Dhulipala. In Monkey Man Patel will be seen playing the role of a kid ‘seeking retribution against the corrupt leaders responsible for his mother’s death.’
Talking about casting Shobita, he said, “Not only is she breathtakingly beautiful – but she carries pain well as a performer. I wanted to find a leading woman that was trapped in a corrupt system like my character but somehow she has a strength and takes the lead in our interactions.”
Praising her some more he added, “She’s not a damsel in distress but instead a woman caught up in a horrible reality. She notices this young man is struggling and in fact stops him from being exposed.”
The film will hit theatres on April 5, 2024.
