EXCLUSIVE: Blink Director Srinidhi Bengaluru On His Acting Stint In Mr Lucky

Having made a mark as a filmmaker with Blink, Srinidhi Bengaluru recently stepped in front of the camera with Harshith Rangaswamy’s fantasy thriller Mr Lucky, which arrived in theatres on October 30. The Filmfare Award-winning filmmaker, whose Blink won Best Film (Critics’) - Kannada at the 70th Filmfare Awards South, takes on a prominent role in the film, marking an interesting new chapter in his creative journey.

While his association with cinema has largely been as a director, acting is not entirely unfamiliar territory for Srinidhi. In fact, he began his creative journey as a theatre actor before moving towards filmmaking. His return to acting came about rather unexpectedly, thanks to his association with Harshith Rangaswamy, the director of Mr Lucky. What began as a professional collaboration eventually turned into an opportunity to revisit his first creative calling.

Interestingly, Srinidhi was initially reluctant to take up the role. He had worked with the filmmaker on a short film, contributing sound effects to the project. The director, who had earlier been part of Srinidhi’s theatre group, approached him with a small acting part while the latter was working on Blink. Srinidhi wasn't particularly convinced about taking it up, but eventually agreed after being persuaded.

The role in Mr Lucky might not be a lead character, as some viewers could assume from the film's promotional material, but Srinidhi points out that it is an important one in the context of the story. Having been involved in the project's development, he also contributed his thoughts on the script and dialogues, making the experience more than just an acting assignment.

"I actually began my career as an actor in theatre. I started with acting and did several plays. I also acted in a film when I was younger, for which I won a state award. After that, I didn't really pursue acting in films, although I continued performing in my other projects. When I was working on Blink, the director of Mr Lucky approached me with a small role. I initially told him that I wasn't sure it would suit me, but he insisted that I act," he recalls.

Having spent considerable time behind the camera, Srinidhi believes the transition to acting was an enriching experience. His understanding of framing, camera placement and the technical aspects of filmmaking gave him a different perspective on approaching a performance. He also credits his theatre background and the acting classes he attended earlier for helping him reconnect with the craft.

"There is an advantage to being both a director and an actor. You understand the lensing, positioning and coverage. You know how a scene is being constructed. I had attended several acting classes during my theatre days, and I was always interested in experimenting with what I had learnt. Even when I was directing, I would try to incorporate some of those ideas into my work," he says.

His involvement with Mr Lucky extended beyond his performance. Srinidhi had heard the narration, offered suggestions on the script and shared his thoughts on the dialogues. He was particularly invested in the project because of his association with Harshith, who had earlier been part of his theatre group. He also recalls how the filmmaker had quit his job after Blink to pursue his ambition of directing films, eventually making a short film with his friends using his own money.

"Harshith always had a passion for directing films. After Blink, he left his job and made a short film with his friends. I did the sound effects for it. He did a very good job despite the limited budget. When he came to me with Mr Lucky, I was quite involved in the project. I had heard the narration and suggested a few corrections to the dialogues. It was his dream project, and I was happy to contribute wherever I could," Srinidhi explains.

The filmmaker also reflects on the challenges faced by independent cinema, particularly when it comes to attracting audiences to theatres. His experience with Blink has given him a perspective on how films often need time to find their audience. While word of mouth can help a film build momentum, getting people to notice a smaller production in the first place remains a challenge.

Srinidhi believes audiences have consistently supported good cinema, but the economics of filmmaking have changed considerably. For smaller productions, the cost of making a film is only one part of the challenge. Marketing and publicity require substantial additional investment, something that independent filmmakers and producers often struggle to accommodate.

"People need time to discover certain films. It takes a while for them to understand what a film is offering and for word of mouth to build. We have always received support from audiences, but the number of people coming to theatres has decreased. The challenge is getting them to notice these films," he says.

He also points out that filmmakers working with limited budgets often find themselves with very little left to spend on promotions once production is complete. The situation, he feels, has become particularly uncertain for producers, who can no longer be confident that even an average theatrical performer will eventually recover its investment.

"Marketing itself requires the budget of another film. We are already working with tight budgets, and there are so many expenses involved in making a film. For new filmmakers, it becomes difficult to bear the additional cost of marketing. Earlier, even if a film was average, there was some confidence that it could eventually reach a break-even point. Now, there is no such assurance. A film might work, or it might not. The producer has to be prepared for either possibility," he observes.

As for his next directorial venture, Srinidhi is currently occupied with writing and developing a few scripts. He has several subjects in mind and has also been part of discussions about potential projects. However, the filmmaker admits that he is still figuring out the kind of story he wants to pursue next. While he has a particular creative sensibility and genre preference, he is also conscious of the need to find a subject that appeals to a wider audience.

The response to Blink has brought its own set of expectations, with producers often approaching him with ideas that draw from the film's success. Srinidhi, however, is keen to explore different possibilities rather than simply repeat a formula that has worked before. Finding the balance between personal creative interests and the commercial considerations of filmmaking remains an important part of his current process.

For now, Mr Lucky has given the Filmfare Award-winning filmmaker an opportunity to revisit acting, a craft he first explored during his theatre days. While directing and writing remain his primary pursuits, his latest outing serves as a reminder that creative journeys do not always follow a predictable path. With several scripts in development, it remains to be seen what Srinidhi Bengaluru chooses to bring to the screen next.





Also Read: Blink Director Srinidhi Bengaluru to Make Acting Debut in Fantasy Thriller Mr Lucky