Director Viswa Karun, who is making his debut with Dilruba, speaks about his journey, inspiration behind this film and more
suresh kavirayani
Director Viswa Karun is all set to make his directorial debut with Dilruba, starring Kiran Abbavaram and Rukshar Dhillon. The film is slated for release on March 14. In a candid conversation, Karun shared insights into his filmmaking journey, how he got his break and what inspired him to enter the world of cinema.
Karun’s love for cinema began early. Coming from a family of educators, he grew up surrounded by literature. “Both my grandfathers were teachers and our house was filled with literary books. I developed a habit of reading from a young age,” he shared.
Born and raised in Tadepalligudem and Bhimavaram, Karun pursued a degree in B. Pharmacy before deciding to chase his filmmaking dreams. “I always knew I wanted to be a director,” he said. His defining moment came when he watched Mugguru Monagallu, a film in which Chiranjeevi played triple roles. “As a child, I thought there were three real Chiranjeevis! My grandfather explained that it was just the magic of cinema. That’s when I decided—I want to be a filmmaker,” he recalled.
Karun had no industry connections when he set out to become a filmmaker. “I roamed around production offices, trying to find opportunities,” he admitted. His first break came when his friend Vicky asked him to write scenes for Naladamayanthi. “I wrote 22 scenes and received Rs 2,500 as my first paycheck. Unfortunately, the film never saw the light of day,” he said.
Determined to succeed, Karun took on various writing and advertising gigs. His persistence paid off when Ranga Ranga Vaibhavanga director Gireeshaya introduced him to veteran writer Vijayendra Prasad, the mastermind behind Baahubali and RRR. Karun worked on the script for Jaguar, starring Nikhil Kumaraswamy (grandson of former Prime Minister Deve Gowda), under the mentorship of director Mahadev Swamy.
“I spent one and a half years working on Jaguar. After that, I felt ready to chart my own path,” he said. He then contributed to Chalo (starring Naga Shaurya and Rashmika Mandanna) and even worked briefly with Ram Gopal Varma and Dil Raju’s production house before landing a stint with producer DVV Danayya. It was during this time that Dilruba started taking shape.
Karun’s collaboration with Kiran Abbavaram happened by chance. “I met Kiran a few years ago and narrated a story to him. He liked my storytelling style but wasn’t convinced by the story itself. He told me to come back with a stronger script,” he recalled. Determined, Karun worked on a new concept and reapproached Kiran. “When I narrated Dilruba, he loved it. He listened for just 40 minutes before giving his approval,” Karun shared.
Despite Kiran’s growing success, especially after Ka, the actor gave Karun complete creative freedom. “Before shooting began, we discussed everything in detail. Kiran never interfered—he just told me, ‘Take your time, but make a great film,’” Karun said.
Discussing the film’s theme, Karun explained that Dilruba explores emotions rarely addressed in mainstream Indian cinema. “Words like ‘sorry’ and ‘thank you’ are common in Western culture, but here, apologizing is often difficult. In Dilruba, the protagonist struggles with apologising for something that isn’t his fault, which creates tension in his relationships,” he revealed.
Another key element of the story is how the protagonist views his ex-girlfriend. “Many people treat their exes as enemies, but before love, there was friendship. Even after a breakup, that friendship can still exist. Checking in on an ex shouldn’t be taboo—that’s something we explore in Dilruba,” Karun said.
He also addressed comparisons to recent films with similar themes, like Sankranthiki Vasthunnam and Return of the Dragon. “Though the core idea might seem familiar, the way we present it on screen is completely fresh. Dilruba offers a unique perspective on love and relationships,” he assured.
With Dilruba set to release on March 14, Karun is ready to introduce his vision to the world. From childhood inspiration to working with industry veterans, his journey reflects passion, perseverance and an unwavering love for storytelling.
