Pushpa Is Named After Real Smuggler Reveals Sukumar

Director Sukumar recently revealed the real reason behind naming the hero's character Pushpa in the movie 'Pushpa'. The film, which was a pan-India hit, created an industry record at the Indian box office with its sequel 'Pushpa 2: The Rule'. Sukumar attended a Tamil awards ceremony where he shared some interesting facts about the movie. He revealed that the character's name was inspired by a real-life smuggler named Pushparaj, whom he interviewed while researching for a web series on red sandalwood smuggling.

Sukumar explained that Pushpa is typically a name given to women, but he thought it was unique and could work well for the hero's role. He believed that the name would connect with audiences across India, given its meaning as a flower. However, Sukumar joked that he named the character not after the flower, but after fire. The film's success can be attributed to Sukumar's direction and Allu Arjun's impressive performance as Pushpa.

Sukumar spoke about his journey as a director, revealing that he was inspired to become a director after watching Mani Ratnam's film 'Geetanjali'. He also credited SJ Surya as a major influence in his career. Sukumar shared that he learned to understand shots and cuts by repeatedly watching the film 'Khushi'. He worked as an assistant to editor Mohan in Chennai at the beginning of his career.

When asked about his future plans, Sukumar named Thalapathy Vijay, Ajith Kumar, and Karthi as potential heroes he would like to work with in Tamil cinema. However, he remained tight-lipped about the possibility of a third installment in the 'Pushpa' franchise, saying that he would know more about it in 2026.