The success of KGF has given both Yash and Prashanth Neel pan India fame. Importantly, it has also paved the way for the Sandalwood industry’s glory so that other movies from the Kannada film industry like Kantara also get the attention and respect across the country for their craft.
Before directing KGF, Prashanth Neel had already directed Ugramm which featured his brother-in-law Srimurali in the lead. Ugramm was a blockbuster but it was KGF that made him a pan-India director and that is why people mostly remember him for that.
As Prashanth Neel turns a year older today here are some other lesser-known facts about him:
Prashanth Neel’s name has a connection with his native village
A village called Neelakantapuram is the native place of Prashanth and his surname Neel is the short form derived from this. Prashanth’s ancestors used to live in this village but his Telugu-speaking parents shifted to Bengaluru, Karnataka, and settled there.
Close relative of a politician
Neelakantapuram Raghuveera Reddy, a congress leader from Andhra Pradesh and an ex-minister is a close relative of Prashanth.
This KGF actor is also related to Prashanth
Balakrishna Neelakantapuram who played the character of Inayat Khalil in the two installments of KGF is also related to Prashanth Neel.
Why did Prashanth choose Yash as Rocky Bhai?
Prashanth was impressed by the performance of Yash in Googly and that is why he decided to cast him as Rocky Bhai for the KGF franchise.
Prashanth has a knack for discovering young talent and giving them opportunities
The Salaar director has a knack for picking up young talent and never hesitates to give them a chance if they prove worthy of it. When Ujwal Kulkarni, a 19-year-old movie buff impressed him with his editing skills, Prashanth asked Ujwal to join him and trained him for three years. Later on, he allowed Ujwal to edit KGF 2.
When he was directing Ugramm he recognized the hidden skills of still photographer Bhuvan Gowda and gave him the responsibility of doing DOP of the film.
Proud owner of hotels
Prashanth Neel is also the co-owner of a group of hotels in Bengaluru-The Highlands Hotel and Moti Mahal that has been passed on to him by his parents.