Why is Senthil Kumar Not Part of Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu’s Movie?

While it’s not officially confirmed, reports suggest that PS Vinod will handle cinematography for SS Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu’s highly anticipated big-budget project. This development has surprised many fans who expected acclaimed cinematographer K.K. Senthil Kumar to collaborate with Rajamouli once again, given their successful partnership on films like Magadheera, Eega, Baahubali series, and RRR.

Recently, Senthil Kumar addressed the speculation during a media interaction while promoting his Friday release, Junior. In an exclusive interview with Gulte.com, when questioned about his absence from the Rajamouli-Mahesh Babu film (SSMB29), he clarified the reasons behind the decision.

There were rumors suggesting that Senthil Kumar’s directorial ambitions led to his non-participation in the project. However, the cinematographer dismissed these claims, stating that while he has always harbored the desire to direct films, that wasn’t the reason for stepping away from SSMB29.

“Rajamouli wanted to try working with a different cinematographer, and this isn’t the first time,” Senthil Kumar explained. “It happened earlier with Maryada Ramanna as well. It’s always good to have little gaps in between collaborations.”

When asked if he felt possessive about his long-standing association with Rajamouli, Senthil Kumar laughed and said, “Definitely not. If I feel possessive, the only person who suffers is me. They informed me about this decision at a very early stage of pre-production.”

Regarding his directorial plans, Senthil Kumar revealed he has been considering the transition for a long time. “Direction involves materializing so many aspects. If everything works out, I will definitely take that step,” he said. He also mentioned that if he does direct a film, he might choose a different cinematographer if he feels he cannot do justice to both roles simultaneously.