The new action-comedy Heads Of State now streaming on Prime Video brings together actors Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Idris Elba and John Cena in a globe-trotting adventure packed with adrenaline and sly humour. In London, UK, we caught up with director Ilya Naishuller to talk about the experience of directing this powerhouse ensemble, why comedy is harder than action, and the surprising message tucked beneath the spectacle.

All three were incredibly receptive to direction — true director’s actors. Each brought a collaborative spirit and was fully committed to serving the film. It’s hard to choose one over the others. In terms of fun, Priyanka was wonderful—she’d finish her shot and then sit with the crew to chat. John, on the other hand, would improvise hilarious lines for ten minutes straight if you didn’t say “cut”—we couldn’t always use them, but they kept the atmosphere lively. There wasn’t a single weak link among them. What stood out was the mutual respect and the way they supported and elevated each other throughout the shoot.

Comedy, definitely. A punch is a punch — you know what it looks like and how to choreograph it. But comedy is subjective, and making people laugh across cultures is tough. Since this is a global film, striking the right balance was crucial. Interestingly, for the first time in my career, I had to cut good jokes — not because they weren’t funny, but to keep the pacing tight. Choosing which one-liner to keep was a new kind of creative challenge for me.

Thank you. Yes, the humour was definitely a major focus. Comedy, much like horror, relies on timing and surprise. But great comedy, like great horror, takes more than that. We worked hard to ensure the humour supported the story and didn’t feel forced. I’ve heard musicals are the hardest genre to direct, maybe that’s next.

That idea was part of the film’s DNA, but the execution evolved. The main goal was always to deliver an entertaining film. But I did want to include a message that resonates globally. The character played by John Cena is optimistic and hopeful, while Idris’s character is more hardened and serious — but both care deeply about their people. In my mind, the ideal leader would be a blend of both — someone hopeful and driven, but also grounded and responsible. That dynamic works well in the film and mirrors what we need more of in the real world: empathy, cooperation, and an openness to learning from those we don’t always agree with.

Just one word — fun. It’s an hour and 45 minutes of pure entertainment. It’ll make you laugh, thrill you with action, and help you forget everything else for a while.

It can be difficult to make political rivalries, espionage, and high global stakes funny, but director Ilya Naishuller’s Heads Of State manages to strike a balance. And Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who plays an MI6 agent tasked with protecting top politicians in the film, is thrilled at the response that the film has received since it dropped online on Wednesday.

The actor — joined by her co-star John Cena — speaks to us in London about shooting the action comedy, playing a strong female character in a male-dominated genre, and the OTT vs theatre debate. Excerpts: 

Priyanka: I loved Ilya’s films Hardcore Henry (2015) and Nobody (2021), so it was a no-brainer for me. I read [the script] and it was laugh-out-loud funny. Plus, my character was telling off these big, powerful men, so I had a lot of reasons to do it (laughs). We got to shoot in London and the South of France; filming with John and Idris (Elba, actor) was a lot of fun.

John: It was an easy yes. Sometimes, when making decisions, we ask ourselves, ‘What can go wrong?’ With [this film], I asked myself, ‘What’s gonna go right?’ I’m glad I did, because the enthusiasm was shared by everybody in the movie, both in the front of and behind the camera. That really made for a heck of a movie.

Priyanka: I just think that they are two different mediums of entertainment. I do think that streaming has brought a diversity of talents in front of and behind the camera, especially in the Indian film industry. I think it’s an evolving thing; but the communal experience and collective joy of watching something in theatres is never going to go away.

John: I just haven’t got that offer yet. I don’t necessarily control my own destiny; the best I can do is react to opportunities that are put my way. What I can tell you matter-of-factly is, I’ve been aware of the passion for WWE in India for over 20 years now. I would not be where I’m at today without the investment and the passion of the audience in India. I’m very grateful for that.

Priyanka: It’s a really fun movie and my favourite genre — it makes you laugh, hold onto your seat, and gets you excited. There’s fun jokes, big explosions and just a great experience. I think it’s one of those movies which you watch with your family and friends for the collective experience.

Taking a breather between promotions, Priyanka and hubby, actor-singer Nick Jonas arrived at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London on Tuesday. Seated in the Royal Box, the couple watched Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz beat British player Oliver Tarvet at the Centre Court. Priyanka’s co-star John Cena, American popstar Olivia Rodrigo and British actor Louis Partridge were also present.

As soon as he came on board as the director of Rudra: The Edge of Darkness, Rajesh Mapuskar knew he had a delicious challenge ahead of him. With Ajay Devgn leading the cast of the Indian adaptation of Idris Elba’s Luther, he had to ensure that the narrative was steeped in the sub-culture of Mumbai. “When I was offered the show, I knew I didn’t want to sign up for a cut-and-paste job. Everything, from the characters to the nature of the crime, had to be tailored to the local sub-culture,” he begins.

The director did so by making Mumbai almost a character, not a mere backdrop, in the Disney+ Hotstar offering. “We used the same locations — say, Asiatic Library and Gateway of India — but we explored them from new angles to capture the sinister side of the city.”

The popular British crime series has spawned Korean, Russian and French adaptations over the years. With the Indian remake joining the list, Mapuskar says he deliberately decided to step out of the shadow of the original, treating it as a new story altogether.

“I have watched all the versions. The show is British in terms of writing, but with each version, comes a new flavour. I had never done an adaptation before. I wanted to know how the makers treated the character that is so famous. It was educational for me. The learning that stayed with me was that we have to forget Idris and Luther while making the show. Through the past year, I have not thought of the original at all. To me, Rudra is a new show with a new character.”

It helps that they found someone as dependable as Devgn to headline the project, alongside Atul Kulkarni, Esha Deol and Raashii Khanna. “Idris is an extrovert; his moves are visible. Mr Devgn is calm on the outside and can contain a storm within. We approached our [protagonist] differently — how he speaks, how he stands. I like to follow my actors and not over-direct, unless they are going away from the narrative. Ajay has done this completely by himself,” says the director, who has also helmed the second season of Delhi Crime.

Ten-year-old Indian-American boy Neel Sethi is set to star as Mowgli in the new live-action adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's classic tale The Jungle Book. New York-born Sethi will be the only actor to appear on screen in the project, which is a combination of live-action and animation, said a website. Jon Favreau is directing the film from a script by Justin Marks for a 3D release in 2015. While Mowgli's jungle family will be created with the help of CGI, the voice cast boasts of Idris Elba as Sher Khan, Ben Kingsley as Bagheera, and Scarlett Johansson and Lupita Nyong'o might join the cast as well. Favreau said it was important to cast the right face for Mowgli. He's confident Neel will be able to handle the role.

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MUMBAI MIRROR (July 17, 2014)