Aug 21, 2026 11:46am IST
‘DC’ Director Arun Matheswaran: ‘I Just Told Lokesh Kanagaraj To Be Himself On Set’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Director Arun Matheswaran’s crime-action drama “DC” has taken theaters by storm, turning heads not just for its relentless violence and painterly visuals, but for putting blockbuster filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj in front of the camera for his full-fledged acting debut. The film stands out in a crowded genre by seamlessly blending pulpy action, stark cinematography, and a score that drives every single beat. In an exclusive interview to Variety India, Arun Matheswaran breaks down how this unique, high-octane spectacle came together.
When asked about what drew him to adapt Devdas into a gritty action drama, Matheswaran reveals his long-standing fascination with the source material. "The whole fascination towards Devdas happened back when I saw Anurag Kashyap's interpretation of Devdas (“Dev. D” in 2009)," he says. "I thought, okay, there is a story there that can be interpreted in an action film. It's more like Devdas meets Bonnie and Clyde. In the original text, Parvati is a childhood lover, but in this, I wanted to treat it like a stranger."
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The journey to bring this vision to life took over a decade, with the director originally pitching it back in 2011. His search for the right lead ended unexpectedly when he crossed paths with Lokesh Kanagaraj. "I had heard somewhere that Lokesh was interested in acting and he was looking out for scripts," Matheswaran shares. "I saw him at a party and I approached him. I thought he would fit the character. He was right away interested. As far as briefing him, I just told him, 'Be yourself.' I didn't want him to do any warm-up per se." He adds, "Lokesh is a known face and director, but as an actor, I think he's relatively new. So I thought someone with his image would fit in, and I think it worked in our favor."
Directing a fellow filmmaker could have brought challenges, but Matheswaran notes that Lokesh came to set purely as an actor. "He just came there as an actor," he emphasizes. "The trust he had on me was very helpful. Obviously, when we were shooting a few lines here and there, he said, 'Can I try this, can I try that?' and that's all. Otherwise, he was just there as an actor."
That trust paid off during the film's most demanding emotional moments, particularly a heavy scene following a character's death. "Breaking down for even seasoned actors is a tough thing to do with two hundred people staring at you on set," Arun explains. "I was kind of like, 'Will he be able to do it?' But he was ready and I think he really pulled it off."
Beyond the performances, “DC” stands out for its visual choices, featuring dark, stark frames that look like living paintings. "Mukesh G, and I have known each other for twenty-five years from the same college," Matheswaran shares regarding his cinematographer. "My previous films had portions shot in black and white, but for this, I wanted to go full color and have red as a motif throughout the film. Instead of glossy images, I wanted dark, starky visuals which kind of represent each character."
Completing the film's atmospheric triumph is composer Anirudh, whose score acts as the true heartbeat of the movie. "Anirudh took the film to a larger audience with his music," Matheswaran notes. "Me and Anirudh had this discussion on how to make violence watchable. He told me, 'Let's soften the music and make the violence watchable,' which gives a very pulpy feel to the entire film."
Recalling the creation of the viral track “Raga of Revenge”, Matheswaran recalls the moment the composition came to life ahead of the trailer's international launch. "We were taking the trailer to Cannes, so we thought, why not give an Indian-ness to it and keep it rooted?" he reveals. "I wasn't there when he composed it, but after all those discussions, he sent me this rough track and it blew my mind. I was like, 'This is it, this is what we need.'"
Post “DC” continuing its strong run, Matheswaran is already looking toward the future while keeping his options open. "I haven't finalized on what I'm doing next," he says. "I'm getting offers, but taking my time to set up my next project, probably in a month or two." Meanwhile, his wife and collaborator Ranjani is preparing her own step into the director's chair. "She's been pitching an action script for two and a half years," Arun shares. "The process is still going on, and hopefully in the future, we'll see."
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