Dulquer Salmaan opens up on North vs South debate, says 'it's just Indian cinema' | Exclusive
India Today
Dulquer Salmaan will be seen next in R Balki's Chup: Revenge of the Artist. In an exclusive chat with IndiaToday.in, the actor opened up about doing pan India films.
Dulquer Salmaan is now spreading his charm in Bollywood after winning hearts in the South cinema. He will be seen next in R Balki's directorial venture Chup, which will drop in the theatres on September 23. The upcoming romantic psychological thriller depicts the pain of an artist who suffers from bad criticism and negative reviews. In an exclusive chat with IndiaToday.in, Dulquer Salmaan opened up about doing pan India films.
Weighing in on the North versus South debate and doing pan India films, Dulquer Salmaan said, "I am not a huge fan of this word pan India. I think it's just Indian cinema. There are some films which are not limited to just one region. Some of them tell very Indian stories like Sita Ramam. Everyone must know someone serving in the Indian Army so Sita Ramam has those elements. It stays true to the Indian elements. But I am not the one to believe that every film I make will work across India every time. Some are purely good to one region and language. But I love that there is so much exchange of talent happening. It used to happen earlier too but now, there is more visibility. We are all more aware of each other. Even historically, there has been so many actors working across industry but now things have changed, there is more recall value. People also watched me on OTT during lockdown so I think that is also one reason why they know me so well."
Dulquer Salmaan opened up about getting negative and harsh reviews for his films. He said, "I have often read a lot of nasty things about myself in reviews. People have even written that I should quit movies, and I am not made for it. It's usually the same thing that I shouldn't be here. This is not my calling. It's really harsh."
Dulquer Salmaan is an actor, playback singer and film producer who predominantly works in Malayalam and Tamil films. He has also appeared in Telugu and Hindi films. In 2011, Salmaan signed debutante Srinath Rajendran's Second Show (2012), in which he played the role of Harilal, a gangster. Salmaan next starred in Anwar Rasheed's Ustad Hotel (2012). The actor has, since, climbed the ladder of success and fame in the industry one movie at a time across various languages.
Others headlining the power-packed cast of Chup are Sunny Deol, Shreya Dhanwanthary, who made a mark for herself with Scam: 1992, and Pooja Bhatt, who recently made a massive comeback with Bombay Begums. Chup is written and directed by R. Balki. Chup is scheduled to be released on September 23, 2022. Dr Jayantilal Gada (Pen Studios) presents the film and all India distribution is by Pen Marudhar. Cinematographer Vishal Sinha and music directors Amit Trivedi, Sneha Khanvilkar and Aman Pant are part of the crew. Pranab Kapadia and Anirudh Sharma are co-producers of the film.
Ali Zafar apologised for wearing a kurta without an undershirt on Eid after several social media users trolled him online. The actor assured that he would make every effort to avoid repeating such a mistake.
Shalini Pandey said in an exclusive conversation that she wants to explore action films and named Ranveer Singh as a dream co-star. She also called Dhurandhar one of her recent favourite films.
Dhurandhar 2 continues to dominate the box office, cementing its position as one of the year's biggest hits. Mustafa Ahmed, who plays Rizwan in the film, wrote an emotional note to Ranveer Singh, offering a deeper glimpse into the bond that shapes their on-screen partnership.
R Madhavan responded to the controversy around a Dhurandhar: The Revenge scene, clarifying that there was no disrespect intended towards the Dasam Granth. The actor called it a misunderstanding.
In a rare crossover, Hrithik Roshan and Ryan Gosling come together for a global conversation on Project Hail Mary. The moment has sparked excitement and raised questions about what comes next.
Rakesh Bedi addressed the controversy over his interaction with Sara Arjun at the Dhurandhar trailer launch. He called it a misunderstood gesture of affection.
By weaving in real-life flashpoints – from Atiq Ahmed's killing to demonetisation in India and Narendra Modi's 2014 victory speech – Dhurandhar: The Revenge blurs the line between fiction and reality. Aditya Dhar uses recent history to lend urgency, scale, and unsettling authenticity to the gritty narrative.
Bollywood star Ranveer Singh is set to apologise in court and visit the Chamundi temple following allegations of derogatory remarks in the film Kantara Chapter 1. The Karnataka High Court emphasised the responsibility of public figures to respect religious sentiments.
Manav Gohil reflected on the massive success of Dhurandhar 2, admitting the scale of its box office impact still hasn't sunk in. From a last-minute casting call to sharing screen space with Ranveer Singh and R Madhavan, the actor opened up about his journey.
Arjun Rampal's Major Iqbal is equal parts menacing and vulnerable. Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar: The Revenge gives him the kind of arc that breaks the usual Bollywood template of a villain, and yet just when it reaches a high, the film does something unthinkable.
Priyanka Chopra attended a high-profile jewellery event in Milan alongside stars like Anne Hathaway and Dua Lipa. She posed for photos and mingled with fellow celebrities at the event.
Wedding planner Priya Maganti shared insights into Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda's intimate wedding, calling it a deeply personal and emotional experience.
Naveen Kaushik responded to Dhruv Rathee's criticism of Dhurandhar 2. He urged audiences not to turn the film into a source of hate despite differing opinions.