Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the iconic film Pulp Fiction, which famously featured Tim Roth leaning in for a kiss with Amanda Plummer while fondly calling her ‘Honey Bunny,’ directors Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K., famously known as Raj & DK, are set to unveil an intriguing Indian spy series titled Citadel: Honey Bunny. This series is set against the backdrop of the vibrant and cinema-influenced 1990s. Unlike its gun-toting Pulp Fiction predecessors who hold up diners, the protagonists of Citadel: Honey Bunny engage in perilous espionage missions, serving as strategic operatives in a fragile peacekeeping endeavor.
This ambitious series features acclaimed actors Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu as the central characters, marking a fascinating spin-off and prequel to the renowned American action-espionage series Citadel. Envisioned and brought to life by the acclaimed Russo brothers, Citadel is conceptualized as a sprawling multinational franchise with extensions set across diverse locales such as India, Italy, and Mexico.
The hallmark of Honey Bunny, however, remains the signature Raj & DK style, recognized for its outrageous yet thrillingly engaging narrative. Following Bollywood stuntman Bunny, played by Varun Dhawan, who ingeniously persuades an ambitious actress, Honey, played by Samantha Ruth Prabhu, to join a spy operation, the plot takes a time leap where the estranged couple reunites years later to protect their daughter, Nadia. This character is portrayed as an adult by Priyanka Chopra Jonas in the original Citadel series.
Raj & DK spoke with The Hindu about maintaining the distinctively ‘Indian’ flavor in Citadel: Honey Bunny. During the discussion, Varun Dhawan expressed his excitement over his character’s 90s-inspired look, having been crafted by Raj & DK alongside costume designer Ameira Punvani. “They showed me the mood-board of the clothes I was going to wear: leather jackets, denims, high boots, high-waisted pants. I sport a mullet as well in the series,” Varun shared, attributing inspiration to Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon and Sanjay Dutt from the cinema of that era. “I am a big fan of the late 80s and 90s so I was just thrilled to do it,” he added.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu reminisced about portraying a struggling actress, an integral but small part of Honey’s journey in the series.
. “I was just remembering some of my earlier films, where I was pretty bad (laughs). These guys were just messing around with me. They put me through a whole gamut of emotions, including complex ones like sadness, anger, and angst,” remarked Samantha.
Raj Nidimoru elaborated on the distinctive vision for the project, stating, “All our career, we have been approached by big studios to make sequels of their popular films. We were never enthusiastic about it because we knew their vision was set. We chose a canvas that’s far away removed from the world of the American version,” revealing that Joe and Anthony Russo allowed for ample creative latitude within the overarching framework.
In a universe not constrained by the fluorescent tones of sci-fi, the series allowed for the creation of unique characters like Honey and Bunny, set in a landscape intrinsic to Indian storytelling. This is evident in the dramatic moments, such as a lengthy emotional scene initiated by Varun Dhawan while portraying a character discussing Kay Kay Menon’s spymaster, Baba. “It’s a long, emotional piece with minor intercuts, and it really works dramatically,” he mentioned, emphasizing the importance of engaging dialogue.
Meanwhile, Samantha recounted her experience filming an arduous car sequence, a scene integral to the action-laden script. “The toughest ‘oner’ for me was the car sequence where I fend off two enemies. We shot it towards the end of the series,” noted Samantha, illustrating the challenge of synchronized maneuvers and highlighting the meticulous efforts behind visually compelling sequences.
Citadel: Honey Bunny stands out because of its dedication to providing an authentically Indian narrative, a contrast to predominantly Western productions. As Samantha articulated, citing inspiration from Japan’s Shogun, “We need to offer something similar.”
With such cultural fidelity, Raj Nidimoru believes that Indian shows, given appropriate leverage and promotion, could achieve unprecedented global success. With the unveiling of Citadel: Honey Bunny, the hope is that it stands as a testament to the potential of Indian creativity on a worldwide stage.
