A Sensory Feast: Sobhita Dhulipala On Her Hollywood Debut Monkey Man

Oscar-nominated actor Dev Patel is making his directorial debut with the action-packed revenge tale Monkey Man, which is being theatrically released by Universal Pictures on April 5. Also starring Sobhita Dhulipala and Sikandar Kher, who will both be making their Hollywood debuts, Moneky Man is being produced by Jordan Peele.

Touted as an ‘action thriller, the official logline of the film reads, "Monkey Man is about one man’s quest for vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systemically victimise the poor and powerless’. The film is inspired by the legend of Hanuman, an icon embodying strength and courage.

The trailer sees Patel play Kid, an anonymous young man who earns a meagre living in an underground fight club where, night after night, wearing a gorilla mask, he is beaten bloody by more popular fighters for cash. Ultimately, he sets out on a quest for revenge against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systemically victimise the poor and powerless.

Patel, who has also co-written the film with Paul Angunawela and John Collee, shot the film in Mumbai. The cast also includes Sharlto Copley, Sobhita Dhulipala, Pitobash, Vipin Sharma, Ashwini Kalsekar, Adithi Kalkunte, Sikandar Kher and Makarand Deshpande.

Regarding her upcoming film Monkey Man, Dhulipala described it as a "roller coaster." Her character possesses a unique texture that stands out, leaving her feeling inspired and more passionate about cinema. She shared, "My character has got a very distinct texture that’s unlike anything I’ve seen. It left me feeling inspired and even more in love with cinema. The action, the music, the style and the raw emotion. It’s going to be a sensory feast."

Watch the Monkey Man trailer here

Monkey Man Plot 

Set on the streets of modern-day Mumbai, Monkey Man tells the story of a man named Kid (Patel), an ex-con whose return to society is a brutal reminder of how India’s caste system keeps poor people trapped in cycles of violence and systemic poverty. Kid has fond memories of an idyllic childhood being raised by his loving mother (Kalkunte), who amazed him with stories about Hanuman. As a young man now, Patel’s character sets out on a quest for bloody revenge as he shoots, stabs and bludgeons his way through gunmen, possibly to seek vengeance for his mom's death.

Monkey Man Release

According to Variety, Monkey Man was originally set on Netflix but is now being theatrically released through Monkeypaw’s film deal with Universal. It will be releasing in theatres on April 5.