~Rana Daggubati talks about Haathi Mere Saathi as the film approaches its Direct-to-TV release on ZeeCinema on 18th September at 8 pm~
Zee Cinema has been the flag-bearer for wholesome family entertainment. Now, the channel is set to
bring the eagerly awaited movie ‘Haathi Mere Saathi’, with an exclusive Direct-to-TV release for its
audience where the viewers can experience this new movie screening right from the comfort of their
homes. Directed by Prabu Solomon, the film talks about the strong bond between humans and animals.
It shows how intangible strings of emotions connect the two species as one. The film stars talented Rana
Daggubati, Pulkit Samrat, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Zoya Hussain and Anant Mahadevan. The movie is
scheduled to release directly on Zee Cinema on 18th September at 8pm.
● Haathi Mere Saathi is now set to have a direct-to-television release, what do you have to say
about it?
Direct-to-TV release is a great way to reach a wider set of viewers. We want the story of Haathi
Mere Saathi to reach the maximum number of people possible. With the movie directly
releasing on Zee cinema, the audience will be able to enjoy the film from the comfort of their
homes.
We made this film to highlight a real-world crisis that is threatening the elephants and their
ecosystem. With this film, we hope to make some difference.
● You worked very closely with animals on the set. Did this film help you establish a newly
found bond with them? Share your experience
Prabu Solomon insisted we shoot the film at real locations with the best possible natural setting. The
movie is very close to my heart because I have always supported the cause to save our wildlife. I took a
brief 15-day training with Kumki elephant trainers to be able to get into Bandev’s shoes. The film gave
me a chance to connect with the mighty elephants, adapt to their surroundings and see why they are
called the protectors of the wild. I still remember we had some shots where all the elephants walked
together, and we could feel the ground shake. That was the moment I actually felt their mighty
presence. Haathi Mere Saathi gave me a chance to rekindle my love for nature.
● Learning the art of co-existing to maintain harmony between humans and nature is very
important. What do you think we can do to keep the bond strong between wildlife and
humans?
The ideal way forward to a healthy and fruitful ecosystem is through co-existence. It is a simple concept;
we are co-dependent. It’s important to maintain harmony between ourselves and nature. This can help
revitalize our planet. If we are simply attentive to the needs of one another, we will be able to
eventually attain parity. Haathi Mere Saathi puts across this powerful thought. As I spent considerable
time in the wild, shooting the movie, this message also got ingrained in me. It made me feel closer to the
unadulterated workings of nature.
● Tell us about some interesting anecdotes from your unique experience of shooting in a jungle
Well, the calm of the jungle and the majestic ways of nature had me spellbound for months. We spent
days without network connectivity, and it really helped me get into the zone. Once we got to the
shooting schedule, I still remember getting lost in the peaceful silence of the greens around me. And
after the day’s shoot, we used to revive ourselves with some stories from the forest rangers. It gave us
an additional peek into their world. It also made us realize the importance of highlighting the need to
maintain ecological balance. All in all, it wasn’t just an exciting and fruitful shoot, but also a learning and
humbling experience.
● Tell us about your upcoming projects
My upcoming line up of films include Virataparvam which is slated for its release, and I am currently
shooting for Bheemla Nayak, remake of the Malayalam Ayyapayum Koshiyum with the power star
Pawan Kalyan. All these stories are very exciting and have appealed to me on various levels. I’m truly
excited to be a part of these interesting projects. Getting an opportunity to work with the power star
Pawan Kalyan has truly been wonderful and I’m grateful to be sharing screen space with him in a film of
such a grand scale. Now that the shoots have started in full force, I’m all geared up for the movies!
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