Baaghi 4 director A Harsha: We were clear from the start that it would be an A-rated film

Baaghi 4, led by Tiger Shroff, has very graphic violence that’s been likened to the action in Animal and Marco. The film is releasing on September 5

Renowned Kannada filmmaker A Harsha makes his Bollywood debut with Baaghi 4

Director A Harsha was in the middle of the final mixing of Baaghi 4, when OTTplay called him for a quick chat about his Bollywood debut. A renowned choreographer-turned-filmmaker in Kannada, with an impressive filmography, including projects with Darshan, late Puneeth Rajkumar and Shivarajkumar, Harsha was in the midst of his Telugu debut Bhimaa, when he was approached by the makers of Baaghi 4 to direct the fourth instalment in the Tiger Shroff-led franchise.

“The team had seen my work in Vedha and liked my approach to the story-telling. I’ve not done anything in Hindi cinema earlier, so it was quite the privilege to be considered for the job,” said Harsha, who then moved to Mumbai once he finished his Telugu film commitment. The filmmaker has been in Mumbai for a year and a half now, spending the first few months on understanding how Bollywood functions, before going on floors.

But for maybe Geleya, Jai Maruthi 800 and Anjaniputhra, Harsha has always worked on films that were based on his stories or that he worked on the screenplay at least. Baaghi 4 is the first that he’s only served as director, adapting the script by writer-filmmaker Sajid Nadiadwala and Rajat Arora for the screen. Harsha, though, does not see that as an impediment to his process, insisting that it is common practice across the world for directors to have no part in the writing, but to still be able to bring that vision to the screen.

A Harsha: Baaghi 4 is not all violence; there's an emotional core

The film, which hits theatres on September 5, has received an A certificate for its graphic violence and mature psychological elements. In fact, after the trailer came out, netizens took no time to dub it a cross of Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal and Unni Mukundan’s Marco, with a sprinkling of Suriya’s Ghajini. Harsha is not perturbed by the comments about the film’s violence, stating that the film ought not be judged by the trailer and that there is an emotional core to the story that he believes will appeal to audiences.

Also read: Baaghi 4 on OTT: Where to stream Tiger Shroff’s action thriller after its theatrical run

“There's nothing that can be done if audiences are making comparisons. They will realize how different the films are when they see it in theatres. Also, we were clear from the beginning that this would be an A-rated film. While we wanted intense action blocks, I wanted to stay away from guns; instead, the action was made more physical, with the bloodshed inflicted with machetes, axes and other such weapons,” says the filmmaker. And while he does not shed much light on the story, Harsha says that Tiger’s performance in Baaghi 4 will be a much talked about highlight.

So, what’s next for Harsha? “I want to go home and relax. Since Bhajarangi 2, I have been doing back-to-back films with barely any break in between. There are a few offers to direct, but I want to some time off before I take a decision,” he signs off.

FAQs

Q: Is Baaghi 4 coming?

A: Tiger Shroff's action franchise, Baaghi, is returning after five years. Backed by Sajid Nadiadwala, the fourth part of the series is scheduled to release in theatres on September 5

Q: Will Shraddha be in Baaghi 4?

A: The previous installments of the hit action franchise starred Shraddha Kapoor and Disha Patani opposite Tiger Shroff, with the fourth installment set to feature Sonam Bajwa as the leading lady.

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