Valimai producer Boney Kapoor remembers Bapu, Mana Voori Pandavulu and his long-time association with Telugu cinema

Boney Kapoor was in a cheery mood, promoting Valimai in Hyderabad at the pre-release event yesterday. The action drama starring Ajith, Huma Qureshi and Kartikeya Gummakonda in the lead is directed by H Vinoth and is releasing across five languages this Thursday i.e. February 24. The producer remembered his association with South Indian cinema over four decades at the event and remained quite confident of Valimai's prospects. All set to work on a third film with Ajith and Vinoth, Boney Kapoor looked thrilled to be taking Valimai across many languages.

"Valimai truly has a pan-Indian team. While Ajith began his career in Telugu cinema, the director H Vinoth (from Tamil Nadu) and actress Huma Qureshi are now trying to speak in Telugu on the stage today. Kartikeya (Gummakonda) already belongs to Telugu land. I also may belong to North India but my heart has always been in South India. I started my career doing remakes of South Indian films, with Hum Paanch, the Hindi remake of Bapu's (garu) Mana Voori Pandavulu. Before that I worked with my father, taking up various roles in production, edited films, assisted Shakti Samantha and I equipped myself with the craft before entering into production," he said.

He further added, "Making my first film with Bapu taught me a lot of things. Working with him introduced me to a place like Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh, it was a visual delight. My love for Ajith had begun in the 90s with the likes of Kaadhal Kottai and Vaali. Here I am, on the threshold of doing my third film with Ajith and also with the same director Vinoth. I hope we even make another film together. The combination of Vinoth and Ajith has worked wonders and their commitment to work has inspired the entire team, even during the peak of the pandemic."

Praising his director and the male lead, Boney stated, "When there was so much misery and sadness around, Vinoth and Ajith stuck to their guns and took huge risks to create what they had visualised. We had over 200 people on set everytime. Kartikeya and Huma Qureshi were a source of great support. Some actors opted out owing to the pandemic and we had to reshoot a few scenes. While Vinoth didn't lose his focus, Ajith didn't lose his enthusiasm and I didn't lose my patience. The result is Valimai and I'm proud to have made this film. They're are my proud possessions."

Talking about the impact that the local boy Kartikeya Gummakonda, he mentioned, "Kartikeya has entered the venue softly today but you'll be shocked to see his ferocious avatar when he arrives on the screen on February 24. He has done a very good job and even inspired Ajith with his fitness. I hope I follow him too and lose my weight. I can't resist Andhra delicacies."