Venkat Prabhu clears the air on shelved Sivakarthikeyan project
Director Venkat Prabhu has addressed speculation surrounding his previously announced film with Sivakarthikeyan after comments by his father, filmmaker Gangai Amaran, resurfaced online.
Sivakarthikeyan’s next project with Parking director Ramkumar Balakrishnan began production on Friday under the tentative title SK27. The film is being produced by Sathya Jyothi Films.
Venkat Prabhu had earlier been attached to direct Sivakarthikeyan’s 27th film for the production house. That project, however, did not move forward, and Ramkumar Balakrishnan is now directing the new film.
Recent online discussions centred on an interview in which Gangai Amaran spoke about why his son’s project with Sivakarthikeyan had been delayed. He said he had advised Venkat Prabhu against taking up the film and referred to an actor without naming him.
The comments led to speculation online that the actor in question was Sivakarthikeyan. The discussion gained further traction because pre-production work for the proposed film had reportedly included activity in the United States.
Venkat Prabhu has now clarified that there is no personal dispute between him and Sivakarthikeyan.
He said his father was naturally frustrated by delays involving a project connected to his son, but may not have known all the circumstances behind the film’s status. Venkat Prabhu also explained that he generally keeps details of his professional decisions private and does not discuss his work extensively, even with his father.
According to the director, the project failed to take off for various reasons and there were no hard feelings involved.
Venkat Prabhu added that he remains open to working with Sivakarthikeyan again if a suitable script comes along in the future. He also asked people to put an end to the speculation as he focuses on his upcoming work.