The countdown is on for the grand worldwide theatrical release of K. G. F: Chapter 2, which opens in cinemas in less than a week on April 14. Directed by Prashanth Neel and produced by Vijay Kirgandur's Hombale Films, the sequel to 2018's K.G.F: Chapter 1 is being released as a pan-Indian venture in Hindi, Malayalam, and Telugu languages, with the Tamil version being distributed by Dream Warrior Pictures. With the promotions in top gear, filmmaker Prashanth Neel sat down for an exclusive interview for Galatta Plus with renowned National Award-winning film critic and writer Baradwaj Rangan to shed light on the process that went behind the making of KGF 2, including revealing interesting details such as the casting of Yash for the role and the plans for a change in his look in the sequel. 

Speaking about Yash's casting in the KGF films, Prashanth Neel stated, "I had to imagine him in the role since he did a bubbly love story called Googly and that was the first time I had seen him. And, I knew there was this rising star somewhere and I went and watched the movie because my co-director told me to. He said that since there's no love story in my movie I should see how they're lapping up this movie. The intention was different. But, when I went and saw him there, I became his fan. And, I narrated a scene to my producer and he asked me who was going to fit into that role. And at this point, Yash didn't look like Rocky at all. I said he could look like Rocky because he has that attitude of Rocky. So, the whole design and understanding behind that was simple - I wanted an actor who could have that magnetic presence about him, the swag and the quirkiness. For somebody to perform something like that, it's very difficult. That was an instant reaction when I said Yash to the producer when he asked who should play the role." 

Prashanth Neel went on to reveal a change he wanted to make to change Yash's look in KGF: Chapter 2 by removing his beard. He said, "We wanted to remove his beard in the sequel. That was how the transformation was going to be. Of course, we had initially written it as one movie. So, we said that the first half and the second half should include a change. We had written the second half with him shaving and just having a mustache. But, he was not willing to do that. After he watched the movie, we just had those two flashback portions to shoot in KGF: Chapter 1." Quoting Yash's words, the filmmaker said, "I am not doing that. I can't take off my beard. I'll not look like Rocky." Prashanth added, "Yash convinced us not to take off the beard. And, it took a lot of convincing."

Watch Prashanth Neel talk about KGF: Chapter 2 in the interview below for Galatta Plus: