Fan to Director: Lokesh Kanagaraj's Journey with Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan | InFocus | THR India

Filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj sits down with Anupama Chopra of The Hollywood Reporter India for an intimate conversation about his journey in the film industry. From his early days as a storyteller to becoming one of the most sought-after directors in South Indian cinema, Lokesh candidly discusses the challenges and triumphs of his career. He opens up about his unique approach to filmmaking, balancing commercial success with artistic vision, and his aspirations for the future. In this exclusive interview with Anupama, Lokesh reflects on the impact of his recent films on his career and how he's navigating his growing influence in the industry. He shares insights into his creative process, the importance of collaboration with actors and technicians, and his experiences working with some of Tamil cinema's biggest stars like Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. Lokesh also touches on his upcoming projects, including "Thalaivar 171" with Rajinikanth, and his plans for expanding the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU). He discusses his approach to action sequences, his views on violence in cinema, and how he handles criticism. Don't miss this in-depth conversation between Anupama Chopra and one of Tamil cinema's most innovative filmmakers as he discusses his rise to prominence, his passion for storytelling, and his vision for the future of Indian cinema. Location Courtesy: Leela Palace, Chennai 00:00 Introduction and welcoming Lokesh Kanagaraj 01:42 Experience directing Rajinikanth as a Kamal Haasan fan 03:18 Differences between directing Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan 05:57 Early conversations with Rajinikanth 09:38 Managing multiple star actors in films 13:47 Collaborative process with actors on set 16:47 Potential collaborations 17:27 Writing process and violent love story attempt 25:07 Creating the LCU (Lokesh Cinematic Universe) 31:12 Early storytelling experiences 42:17 Creating action sequences and memorable moments 49:12 Working with cinematographer Girish 55:48 Approach to action and violence in films 1:03:56 Taking criticism and learning from it 1:06:23 Camaraderie among Tamil film directors 1:12:40 Early influence of watching Rajinikanth and Kamal films 1:17:37 Reflections on directing legendary actors 1:19:00 Closing remarks #lokeshkanagaraj #anupamachopra #tamilcinema