It was an iconic moment when Indian filmmaker SS Rajamouli first met Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg for the first time in Los Angeles earlier this year. However, the Oscar-winning filmmaker hadn’t seen ‘RRR’ at the time.
Now, the filmmakers were in discussion on Steven’s latest movie ‘The Fabelmans’, which was released in India last week. The period drama is an autobiographical and personal look at the filmmaker’s childhood and how he took up a camera and fell in love with filmmaking. While Rajamouli had several questions about the movie, the conversation began with Steven gushing about ‘RRR’.
He told Rajamouli, "It was amazing, couldn't believe my eyes. For me, it was like eye candy. I thought the performances of Rama [Jr NTR], Ram [Charan] and Alia [Bhatt], the cast was just... and Alison Doody, my girl from ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’. In the movie, I was happy to see how you ended her story because she was so heinous as was her husband. Beautiful, visual style and extraordinary to look at and experience. Congratulations for RRR!” A delighted Rajamouli replied, "Thank you so much, I can almost get up from the chair and dance from your compliments. It means a lot to me.”
He also asked Steven about the approach that Indian filmmakers have to take to chase the Oscar dream. A two-time winner of the Best Director category at the Oscars, Steven shared that he would not want to give any advice on what to do differently, especially if they come from a different country or culture.
He said, "I would just say, keep telling your own stories and don't try to conform your stories, to stories you think the world wants to hear. Then you're working for the world, you're not working from your own heart. Tell the stories that come from your heart and that will service you for the rest of your career."
‘RRR's song ‘Naatu Naatu’ is nominated for Best Original Song at the 95th Academy Awards. The awards ceremony will be held on March 12, 2023, in Los Angeles.
