Actor Yogi Babu denied being paid in lakhs, and said that he has even asked for pay cuts to encourage young talents. He was speaking at the audio launch of Dharmaprabhu, the upcoming Muthukumar directorial starring him in the lead.
Yogi Babu has delivered back-to-back hits in Tamil cinema and is one of the busiest actors today. Responding to producer KE Gnanavel Raja who spoke about his high salary, the actor said, “It’s not true, I came into the industry with a salary of Rs 2000 to 3000. I understand the plight of producers. I recently even asked for a cut to encourage a young person in the industry. I’ve made two films with your company and you know my payment.” He further said, “I am one among you all. People say I have reached a position where there is no one to compete. But you can’t play when there are no players. There are talented people who might come up in the future, but right now I am just going about with my job.”
Speaking about Dharmaprabhu and his friendship with director Muthukumar, he said, “Muthu and I have been friends for over 15 years. We used to live out of my meagre salary and went many nights without food. But we discussed films and Muthu narrated Dharmaprabhu over 10 years ago. I’m happy it has worked out. I also signed my good friend Sam Anton’s Ghurka at the same time. To complete both the films I was working day and night without a gap for 45 days.”
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Yogi Babu said that in Tamil cinema, legendary actors have played the role of Yama, and he was lucky to have got this chance in Dharmaprabhu, “Actress Rekha who has an important role in the film told me that whenever anyone played Yama, the pride associated with his personality will automatically come to them. It is true! I felt the same way. After starring in films such as Aandavan Kattalai and Pariyerum Perumal this will be important in my career. In the film, we have said many truths about society.”
Written and directed by Muthukumaran, Dharmaprabhu is Yogi Babu’s first movie as a lead actor. It’s a political satire set against a mythological backdrop, with Yogi Babu starring as the leader of Yamaloga. Ramesh Tilak, Rekha, Kovai Sarala, Manobala, Motta Rajendran and others are his aides. The film is almost complete with only a song left to shoot. Cinematography is by Mahesh Muthuswamy, music by Justin Prabhakaran. Sri Vaari Films have bankrolled the project.
Dharmaprabhu has been shot in Pollachi, and is an important movie for Yogi Babu whose second project as a lead actor, Gurkha, is also gearing up for release.