Director Elan, who has now stepped in front of the camera with Pyaar Prema Kalyanam, says the family conflicts portrayed in the film were inspired by his observations of real-life relationships. The romantic family entertainer, starring Elan alongside Saanve Megghana, is set to release on Netflix this Friday.
Acting had always been part of Elan’s plans. He reveals that he initially wrote his first film with himself in mind, but the project required a budget of around ₹2 crore and producers were reluctant to back a newcomer as a lead actor. He therefore chose to establish himself as a director first, planning to act after making three films. However, after completing two films, he decided it was time to take the plunge.
Elan approached his acting debut with preparation, undergoing a week of training with acting coach Rejin Rose. Interestingly, the trainer felt Elan was already on the right track and did not want to overcomplicate his performance. That feedback gave the director-turned-actor considerable confidence. He also rehearsed his scenes with Saanve before the shoot, helping them develop a comfortable on-screen equation.
The family dynamics in Pyaar Prema Kalyanam have a strong real-life foundation. Elan separately spoke to his mother and his brother’s wife and asked them how they would react to various situations. Their responses were later recreated in the film. Even seemingly insignificant matters, such as buying rice, could turn into major points of disagreement within a family. When Elan eventually revealed their respective answers to each other, both were surprised by how differently they viewed the same situations.
For Saanve Megghana, the film offered an opportunity to play a character markedly different from her role in Kudumbasthan. While both films deal with marriage and love, she describes her character in Pyaar Prema Kalyanam as modern and independent. She plays an influencer who has a voice of her own, allowing her to explore a completely different personality from her earlier rural character. Interestingly, Saanve recalls questioning her mother as a child about the tradition of women moving into another family after marriage, wondering why the man could not instead come and live with her family.
Elan also underwent physical preparation for the role. He gave up biryani, his favourite food, for six months and worked on gaining a few kilos, along with maintaining a regular gym and skincare routine. As the film is heading directly to Netflix, he admits that he will miss the theatrical experience, particularly the claps and whistles from audiences. At the same time, he acknowledges that streaming platforms have become an important part of the future of cinema.
Looking ahead, Elan wants to experiment with different genres, including action comedy. One of his long-standing ambitions is to remake Adhe Kangal with international production standards. He also has no intention of pushing his longtime friend and music composer Yuvan Shankar Raja into acting, despite the interest among fans, believing that Yuvan himself does not have the desire to pursue acting.