Nagarjuna: I want to do meaningful cinema

Nagarjuna started this interview by saying it was a tough week for the family as his father Akkineni Nageswara Rao was diagnosed with cancer on Saturday. But he made a remarkable recovery.

“On Monday he has a high-risk stomach surgery and on Tuesday, he walked out of the ICU to see us all outside. Even the doctors were surprised. He is now waiting to get home! We are relieved a bit now.”

With his film Bhai releasing on Friday, October 25, Nagarjuna talks to Radhika Rajamani about the film which he calls a “stylish entertainer”.

Could you talk about Bhai?

It’s a 100 per cent entertainer. For the last two years, I have done different films-- Rajanna, Shirdi Sai, Damarukam -- which were either period based or biographical.

Bhai is a stylish entertainer with punchy dialogues.

I saw Veerabhadram’s Poolarangadu which was very entertaining. I thought if we gave him good technicians like Sameer Reddy (director of photography), Devisriprasad (music), good locations and good production, he can do a good job. So together we made a grand film.

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Devisriprasad has composed hit music for your films. His title songs have fared well…

All DSP (Devisriprasad)’s title songs are hits -- be it in Mass, Bhai or Chiranjeevi’s Shankardada MBBS or Pawan Kalyan’s Gabbar Singh. That’s his stamp.

Is Bhai similar to King and Don?

It’s more like King as it is more entertaining. Don was more about revenge. Bhai is full of entertainment. I wanted the family audience to see it, so there are good songs, good locations, and good dialogues.

Brahmanandam, M S Narayana, and Raghubabu are there. The first half is mafia-related while the second half provides entertainment.

Which is the song you liked the most in Bhai?

I liked BHAI bhai. I also like Ippudu… sung by my friend Mamta Mohandas. Some time back I gave her an award and asked her to sing. She said she could not because of a throat problem.

I felt bad as she was interested in singing. When I heard Ippudu… I asked Devi who had sung it and he said Mamta had. I was happy and glad that she had started singing again.

You shot the film in Slovenia?

Yes, Slovenia in Eastern Europe is a very beautiful country. The old castles and architecture are well preserved there.

The population is so small we could shoot on the roads, barring the reserved time, as there was no traffic.

The first 20-25 minutes of the film focuses on the Indian mafia settled in Hong Kong. Then the story shifts to Hyderabad. There are two-three action episodes. We went more on style than violence.

The ‘Bhai bullets’ are becoming a trend…

We thought of putting some of the punch lines on the social network and they caught on with the youngsters.

You have got into distribution for this film too…

Since we worked hard on this film, we would like to enjoy the profits.

Why did you team up with Reliance Entertainment?

Reliance is a top player in Hollywood. It is just a handshake. Let’s see how it goes.

Teasers of Bhai have heightened expectations. How do you think fans will receive it?

Fans will like the dialogues. We have made it with the idea that people will like it and it will run. We have done our best.

When will films like Shahid be made in the Telugu industry?

There are so many other good films besides Shahid, like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.

Shahid is not commercially successful.

They are pure multiplex films made within a certain budget. If we have to do it in the Telugu industry, we have to do it within six-seven crores.

I see the multiplex culture growing here so one can see these kinds of films in the coming years.

Would you want to make films with sports as the subject?

I want to make films in all genres. The director should have the passion. No one is coming up with creative scripts.

Rajamouli has made films like Eega, and Maryada Ramanna with passion. He can do anything with anybody -- he does not necessarily need a star. I am proud of him.

I also want to do meaningful cinema. The producer should be able to make money, and the audience should be happy.

It is up to stars and directors to make it viable. That culture which is there in Hindi and Tamil is yet to come to Telugu but it will come some time.  

What is the reaction to Manam’s first look?

My father is the hero in that. Everyone said he looks cute.

The film is 60 per cent done. We are proud to do this film.

My father still has three-four days of shooting left. We hope the shoot will be over by December.

What are your next projects?

There is a film to be directed by Dolly (Kishore) and one produced by Durga Arts.

I am looking for something new. I’m waiting and watching.

What does cinema mean to you now that you have done so many films?

Cinema to me is magic, life, bread and butter. 

My father asked me to study and then I came back to films.

Chaitanya came to acting after his graduation. Akhil started pursuing film studies.

We love this field. It’s everything for me and the family.