Dev Patel's "Monkey Man" made its premiere at the 2024 South by Southwest Festival, and it impressed critics and action/thriller lovers alike. Not only is it Patel's directorial debut, but it's also the first Hollywood role for breakout star . The Indian actress and supermodel auditioned for the role of Sita in 2016, early on in her career.
"I got a call back, I met Dev, and I could see how much this story meant to him and how involved he was in every aspect of the film coming together," Dhulipala tells PS. "I respect that passion and dedication — and about a good four or five years after that is when I get another call saying, 'Hey, this film's happening finally.'" Although the movie hit a few roadblocks in the production stage, it's now a worldwide success, thanks to gritty action sequences and compelling storytelling.
"My joy was in the making of it," she says. "When we were shooting it in those challenging circumstances, that was like the zenith for me in this experience, not the release. It's just such a beautiful feeling to be picked by a first-time filmmaker, to be part of their vision.
I had faith in his sincerity, in his passion, and in his honesty in wanting to tell a story with all his heart. There was no reason to not do it." Dhulipala often plays characters who are complex, and she enjoys it.
"With Sita, there was a vulnerability but also strength. There was beauty but also grief. She was so many opposite things coming together, and that always makes for an int.
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