Prashanth Neel Reveals His Inspiration – “Old Chiru Movies Made Me Fall in Love with Heroism”

Bengaluru: KGF and Salaar director Prashanth Neel has opened up about the inspiration behind his powerful cinematic style. Known for his breathtaking elevation shots, grand hero entries, and strong emotional storytelling, Neel revealed that his love for South Indian cinema — especially Telugu movies — shaped his vision as a filmmaker.
Speaking in an interview, Prashanth Neel said that his favorite hero is Megastar Chiranjeevi (Chiru), and he grew up admiring the charisma, swag, and heroism in Chiru’s classic films. “I have watched a lot of South Indian movies, especially Telugu films. I love the way heroism is celebrated in those movies. Old Chiru films like Indra inspired me deeply,” he shared with a smile.
Neel explained that many of his famous elevation scenes were unconsciously influenced by the way Chiranjeevi’s mass moments were presented on screen. “The way Chiru entered the frame, the background score, the emotion — everything was pure magic. For example, the Indra entry scene with Boss and Arthi — that same energy inspired the hero-heroine entry in KGF 2. It’s my tribute to that era of cinema,” he said.
The director also mentioned that Chiru’s movies taught him how to balance power and emotion — a trademark visible in his own work. “Mass scenes work only when the emotion behind them is strong. Chiru mastered that balance. That’s something I try to recreate in my films,” Neel said.
With KGF 2 already a global blockbuster and Salaar 2 on the way, fans now understand where that unstoppable energy and “mass appeal” come from — straight from the heart of a director who grew up idolizing the Megastar of Telugu Cinema.
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