Mumbai was the center of attention on Monday evening as the international press conference for the highly anticipated film Martin took place, unveiling its first trailer. The event drew film journalists from 21 countries, including the USA, England, Dubai, Korea, Japan, Russia, and Malaysia.
Dhruva Sarja, the film’s lead actor, discussed his approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind Martin. He proudly highlighted India’s significant role in the global film industry, saying, “India is the country that produces the most films in the world. This is the land where the Ramayana and Mahabharata took place. I feel proud to say that I am from this divine land. Welcome to this divine land of ours…”
Sarja emphasized his commitment to creating films that resonate internationally. “I was searching for a unique screenplay, and I believe this film will captivate audiences. Our aim was to make something that transcends regional boundaries and can be appreciated globally. That’s why we decided to create an international film.”
Addressing the film’s delay, Dhruva explained, “Good things naturally take time. We aimed for perfection and spent approximately 250 days shooting for a 150-minute film. This film is a result of meticulous work by technicians, with no compromises.”
Regarding competition, Dhruva shared his philosophy: “I compete with myself rather than with others. I constantly think about how I can improve with each film. This industry has many talented people, and I take my career very seriously. I do not compete with anyone else but strive to better myself.”
On the topic of Indian films competing on the international stage, he noted, “With OTT platforms, the barriers between languages have disappeared. We aim to create films that are relevant to audiences across languages. ‘Martin’ embodies this vision.”
Arjun Sarja, the film’s story writer and Dhruva’s uncle, also spoke at the press conference. He praised Dhruva’s dedication, saying, “Dhruva considers his fans in every scene of his movies and constantly thinks about whether they will enjoy each scene. Writing a story for his film is a significant challenge. He does not call his fans fans but VIPs, and they have high expectations from him. Despite this, the story has shone through. The film is a major project, and producer Uday Mehta has invested a lot in it. He deserves awards and recognition.”
Arjun Sarja described Dhruva as a self-taught artist, likening him to Ekalavya. “I did not train Dhruva; he learned everything by observing. I did not introduce him to the film industry; he introduced himself. His hard work and dedication have brought him to this stage. He did everything himself, from losing weight to gaining it back, growing with dedication. Instead of saying I inspire him, he inspires me.”
Sarja also mentioned he could not reveal details about the film without giving away the story. “I wrote this story with Dhruva’s fans in mind rather than Dhruva himself.”
The press conference was attended by director A.P. Arjun, producer Uday Mehta, actress Vaibhavi Shandilya, and story writer Arjun Sarja. The event highlighted the film’s potential and its ambition to make a significant impact both in India and internationally.
