Telugu star Varun Tej’s first pan-India movie Operation Valentine will launch on March 1.
Varun performs an air drive pilot, and reveals no indicators of nervousness as he tells Subhash Ok Jha extra concerning the struggle thriller: “I have been waiting for this day since I first heard the script. We are confident about how the film has shaped up. It’s the most ambitious project in my career till date, and technically very challenging.”
“Our team has been working day and night to deliver the best output and to give the audience a superb cinematic experience.”
Varun shares his challenges to organize for the function: “There have been two elements of prep for this function. One is the obligatory bodily facet, the place I’ve to seem like a fighter pilot. I consider that does half the job. For that, hitting the health club, getting a well-balanced food plan… My most important aim was to look agile and never too muscular.
“The other aspect is to behave, talk and walk like a fighter pilot. Manushi Chillar and I were lucky enough to have met some real life fighter pilots and to have interacted with them for a significant amount of time. We picked some nuances, body language and other aspects from them.”
About the motion sequences Varun says, “They were more of a challenge to the director, the action choreographer and the DOP (Director of Photography). There is obviously a lot of physical strain while shooting the action sequences but I loved filming them. It was tough but fun!”
He admits that Operation Valentine went by means of its share of delays.
“We had the normal hiccups that a project of this magnitude would have,” he says.
“From the beginning, Director Shakti Prasad Singh Hada and I were determined to shoot in actual air bases and war locations, for which we got the consent of the MoD (ministry of defence) and the IAF (Indian Air Force).”
“Since the film is about the IAF, we wanted the Indian Army’s approval and appreciation. We had sent the script of Operation Valentine to them at a very early stage and got their feedback. We had to match our shooting timelines with the MoD and the IAF.”
“I imply, if you wish to take a crew of 200 and shot in an airbase, you must comply with strict protocol, concerning safety checkups, and so on. That prompted a little bit delay and we could not hit the December 8 launch schedule.
“We were also lagging behind because we want the VFX to be just right. Delays apart, we are happy with our end product.”
Is he nervous about comparisons with the current Hrithik Roshan starrer, Fighter?
“Obviously, the comparison pops up because they are both aerial combat films and inspired by the same events,” he says with a shrug.
“I can’t speak for that movie, however Operation Valentine is our personal interpretation of what occurred in 2019 at Pulwama. I’m glad extra movies are being made on our armed forces. I’m fairly assured concerning the output and I’m certain everybody will resonate with the emotion within the movie.
“I hope our intention behind making Operation Valentine — to show the courage and valour of the Indian Air Force — is conveyed.”
