The Gray Man was just released on Netflix and during the premiere of the film in Mumbai, filmmaker duo Anthony and Joe Russo recently got into a conversation about movies with film critic Rajeev Masand. Interestingly, they were joined by RRR director SS Rajamouli.
The Russos admitted that it was a pleasure to sit down with Rajamouli and said they were fans of the Indian filmmaker.
Speaking about collaborating with Netflix for The Gray Man, the brothers shared, “During the conception of The Gray Man, we wanted to construct a film that was very ambitious from the get-go. The ambition of the film lined up well with Netflix’s appetite. We have a great working relationship and an easy successful partnership that has been established. Once we knew they had the appetite for it, it was perfect.”
Rajamouli said that one of the major hurdles in filmmaking is a lack of belief. “A good story is a good story for all the people across the globe but to take a story to cross boundaries, cultures – there are many hurdles but the principal hurdle is belief. If I don’t believe that I have a good enough story that transcends boundaries. If I have that, then the other hurdles can be crossed.”
He also confessed that he doesn’t tailor his stories to speak to a global audience specifically.
Discussing the response RRR has seen from global audiences, Rajamouli said, “I am surprised by the reception from the West and I didn’t think I could make films for Western sensibilities so when it came out on Netflix and we started hearing the feedback I was really surprised and it couldn’t have been possible without Netflix and I have great regard from them.”