Vicky Donor, Badhaai Ho inspired me to do Super Subbu: Sundeep Kishan

Actor Sundeep Kishan said films such as Vicky Donor and Badhaai Ho played a major role in his decision to headline Super Subbu, a Telugu series that deals with sex education through humour and sensitivity. He said he wanted a story with a film language similar to those films in his own filmography.

In an exclusive conversation with India Today, Sundeep said the series does not treat its subject in a vulgar or sensational way. He said the humour comes from the situations around the subject, not from the subject itself. The 39-year-old actor added that he was also surprised when a platform like Netflix backed the show. He said he believes Telugu audiences are gradually becoming more open to such conversations when they are handled in the right way.

Sundeep said he was drawn to the show because it reminded him of how Vicky Donor and Badhaai Ho handled taboo subjects without becoming vulgar. "The idea of this character going to a village and teaching something to people who are even more orthodox than him creates a very interesting situation for humour. We don't make humour out of the subject itself; the humour comes from the situations the subject creates," he said.

The actor continued, "Some of my favourite films in this space are Vicky Donor and Badhaai Ho. I was pleasantly surprised by how smartly they handled sensitive concepts with humour. One of the biggest reasons I wanted to do Super Subbu was because I wanted a story and film language like this in my filmography. I'm thankful to Malik Ram because one tiny jump in the wrong direction and the show could have become something completely different. I'm genuinely grateful that he got the balance right."

Reiterating the influence of those films, he added, "Films like Vicky Donor and Badhaai Ho inspired me to have a story and film narrative like this in my own filmography."

His surprise over the Netflix-backed project

Sundeep said he did not expect a subject like this to come to him, especially as a Netflix show. He said, "Telugu content has always been very varied and surprising over the years. Today, it's reaching a wider audience across the country because of the availability of platforms. I was very surprised that a subject like this came to me at this point in my life, and that Netflix was backing it as a show."

"The collaboration of Netflix, Malik, and the content itself was a very pleasant surprise. Once I heard the narration, I realised how they were planning to make it, and I saw something very special in the making. Today, I can reiterate that we've made something very special. I'm very content and proud of the kind of content we've chosen to back," the actor added.

No sensationalism, he says

The actor stressed that Super Subbu does not sensationalise its central theme. He said, "There's absolutely no obscene language in this show. We're not abusing anyone. There are no awkward intimate scenes. If this were released as a film, it would easily get a U certificate. Yes, the premise is about a man going to a small village to teach sex education, but we tried to handle that opportunity in the best possible way."

Sundeep said he would not have taken up the show if its only purpose was to shock viewers. "To be honest, if this had been a show that simply wanted to sensationalise sex education or visually titillate people, I wouldn't have done it. That's true. Why would I spend ten months or a year of my life doing something whose biggest purpose is just to titillate or sensationalise?" he expressed.

"There have been many opportunities to do that, and I could have done them earlier too. The beauty lies in trying to say what you want to say without taking the easier route. That's what makes it special. Whether we succeed or not, we'll find out. But at least we'll be able to keep our heads high because we were very particular about making this show the right way," the actor continued.

On changing attitudes

Speaking about conversations around sex education, Sundeep said society is slowly opening up. "A lot of people have asked me whether Telugu families will be ready to watch content like this. I think they absolutely should. Take Bhagavanth Kesari, for example. It has an entire portion about 'no means no' and good touch, bad touch. You can already see mainstream Telugu audiences slowly accepting such conversations when they're presented at the right pace. I think Super Subbu arrives at the right time and with the right subtlety. It helps people understand without making the subject itself the joke."

He also said the need of the hour is education, not sensationalism. "Interestingly, sex education is not about how to have sex. It's about how not to have sex. I think the 'not' is the part a lot of people keep forgetting."

Reflecting on wider social change, Sundeep said, "I genuinely believe we're moving in the right direction as a society when it comes to learning. At the same time, we also carry the baggage of decades of doing things the wrong way. Whatever extra heat we're facing today is collateral damage from those years. Thankfully, actual education is now happening through various mediums, so we're in a much better space."

With Super Subbu, he said he wanted to back a story that treats a sensitive subject with care, humour and restraint.