Chuck Russell on ‘Junglee’: Vidyut Jammwal fits my style of filmmaking and understands it

Filmmaker Chuck Russell is all praises for Vidyut Jammwal. The filmmaker stated that the ‘Junglee’ actor is a special guy and also promises a spectacular action-adventure next. Produced by Junglee Pictures, the film is set in Orissa and revolves around the unique bonding between a man and an elephant. Actor Vidyut Jammwal also had admitted that he feels little pressure when it comes to his next action-adventure which is Hollywood filmmaker’s debut Bollywood collaboration.


Vidyut Jammwal had said, “The pressure is on me because I am representing India. These guys are action legends and Chuck used to tell me how he’d seen them perform high-octane stunts with pizzazz. So, when I suffered an injury on set recently and bounced back almost immediately, I felt proud of myself, more so when Chuck told me that any other actor would have asked for a break. That was my big moment!”


Chuck Russell said, “I’ve been to India four times in the last five years and have long wanted to tell stories that have an international connection. The success of ‘The Mask’ internationally showed me how action and comedy could cross boundaries. I broke some rules in the West and added a little song and dance to ‘The Mask’. So, when I had two scripts set in India in development, I was open to meeting new actors and was knocked off by Vidyut’s talent. He is a very special guy, who fits my style of filmmaking and understands it. We’ve taken Vidyut’s performance to the next level in ‘Junglee’.”


Vidyut further said, “We have done a Kalaripayattu-style aaradhana, using trunk-like motions. In nature, every animal has his own salutation, and Kalari draws from these movements, which you can see in the film too. Living and learning with animals is a completely different experience. I’m 80 kg and was performing in front of an elephant who weighed 3000 kg. One whack of his tail and I would suffer a fracture.”


The filmmaker concluded by saying, “Luckily, no elephants or other animals were a part of the sequence. There is a stringent safety protocol that limits all risks but we had a slip-up. It’s the kind of scene where we bring a spectacular action to the screen and Vidyut came right back on the set after his injury.”