Star Interviews
Chit Chat with Sharwanand
By NaChaKi
Jun 17, 2009 - 9:55:28 AM

I had interviewed Sharwanand for TeluguCinema.Com in April 2008 when he came to the USA. This year, coincidentally in April again, he had come to the USA and I thought I'd talk to him again for an interview now that his Raju-Maharaju is planning for a release soon and his film with Deva Katta of Vennela was about to start at that time. It was good to talk to him after a year, though I did meet him briefly at his coffee shop Beenz, Hyderabad (before its inaguration) in late 2008. The interview is presented exclusively to readers of TeluguCinema.Com:

Sharwanand's Filmography

NaChaKi: We spoke earlier when you just got success with Gamyam. So, we'll start off right there again: Tell us about your career after Gamyam? The Tamil version Kaadal Na Chumma Illai was a good success too, right?
Sharwanand: It was a very good success, yeah. And, I had another Tamil film, titled Naalai Namadai, release recently.

NaChaKi: I hear even that got positive reports, and that you're making it into a "lover boy" image there?
Sharwanand: (Laughs) Yeah, that brought two back to back hits in Tamil for me! (Pauses) And, that's what people are saying about me - the image. It was not something I tried to get in really.

NaChaKi: In our previous interview, you said that you did not want to get limited by any image...
Sharwanand: I still stand by that word. Like I said, I am not trying to get into any image. It's the audience who decide where we should stand and as what. It also depends on the characters we choose to do. You may have noticed that I have been choosing different characters in my films...

NaChaKi: Coming to Tollywood now, you've been busy shooting for Raju-Maharaju. Tell us about the film and about your character in the film.
Sharwanand: My role in the film would be like an extension to Abhiram's character in Gamyam... like the rich, spoilt brat, but a hyped up version of the same. Raju-Maharaju is the only family entertainer film for this Summer. It's a typical commercial film too. The film will deal with family sentiment and emotions in a lighter vein.

NaChaKi: You got to work with two debutant heroines, Survin Chawla and Tashu Kaushik, for the first time, I believe...
Sharwanand: Yes, this is the first time I have two heroines. And, though they're both debutants, they've done a fantastic job...

NaChaKi: How was working with experienced artistes such as starring Mohan Babu and Ramya Krishna? We commonly hear all sorts of things about Mohan Babu gaaru - that he's punctual, stern, disciplined, or even reckless.
Sharwanand: It's a wonderful chance to work with big people. Such an opportunity may not knock on one's door frequently. And, it's a chance to know more and more about such great artistes during the course of the shooting for 4-5 months continuously, looking at them not just as artistes but as human beings. It's really an opportunity to observe the older generation of artistes - their work culture, preparation for the role, etc. I feel I am lucky to have worked with great artistes like Mohan Babu gaaru now, and in the past Chiranjeevi gaaru, Venkatesh gaaru, and so on.

NaChaKi: We keep hearing things about Mohan Babu's anger and short temper. Were you ever at the receiving end of such a mood?
Sharwanand: Not at all, not at all, not even once! It's not just me... I don't know why people tell such things about him! It's more fun in the sets with him around. One should only see how enjoyable the shooting environment would be with Mohan Babu gaaru and Brahmanandam gaaru together. You can't believe how fun it is to be with them both together on the sets!

NaChaKi: With two songs shot in Austria, it's heard the film's budget crossed 10 crores! How do you feel about getting into the big league now?
Sharwanand: No, we could not shoot in Austria due to visa issues and then problem with my dates. We thus chose to shoot one song in Kulu/Manali and the other in Malaysia, since we had to wrap up the shooting. It's a big budget film, true, but I don't think it's like I get into a "big league" for this reason. There're examples in the past where the budget was just one or two crores but the film collected over 20-25 crores. So, just a big budget doesn't take into a big league, but well, you could say that the producers could bank on me for a such a huge budget, and that's something to note, I agree. The producers really invested the money primarily with faith in the film and not primarily basing their decision on the market. At least for such nice producers, I wish that the film will be quite successful! ...It's not like I am a 10-crore star now, anyway! But, if I can assure people return of investment, there'd be a better chance for me to experiment with my roles and choose films at a different level...

NaChaKi: Your upcoming film with Chandra Siddhartha will be the a solo hero project for you after a long time. If Raju-Maharaju clicks the way you say it'd, you may even create expectations among audiences. How are you planning to project yourself as a solo hero?
Sharwanand: Yeah, I am doing a solo hero film after a very long time! It was because I never found the right script for a solo hero film. And, I am not limiting myself to one of the two - solos or multi-starrers - in particular. I've been getting offers, but I didn't want to get into it unless the script is alright. Though Gamyam was such a hit, I didn't do any film in Telugu until Raju-Maharaju, after that essentially because I didn't want to simply go after quick buck based on my own success. I always gave utmost importance to script, and that's why I took 8 months to finalize these three projects now. It's not like I want to cash my success and get carried away with a string of films...

NaChaKi: Tell us more about the film.
Sharwanand: This film inspired me, I could say, after Gamyam. The film is a naturalistic, light-hearted one with an undercurrent message and has a lot of humor...

NaChaKi: Chandra Siddhartha's films mostly have a social message within them. So, this one has an undercurrent social message too?
Sharwanand: There's no social message here! It's just "Be happy in life!" You could say the film is a romantic comedy with a light message.

NaChaKi: Is the female lead opposite you finalized?
Sharwanand: Padmapriya is playing the female lead.

NaChaKi: Tell us more about Vennela fame Deva Katta's film Prasthanam that you signed for. Is it going to be another Vennela, in terms of theme and/or success?
Sharwanand: Audience would be surprised to see the way my role is etched in the film. It's going to be a wonderful film for me. It'd be a much bigger hit than Vennela. It's not a sophisticated film like Vennela. Deva took nearly two years to come out with this very extraordinary script. It's going to be the same writer-director, same producer, and same music director... I am very excited to work for this film. The film is going to be made much professionally, like in Bollywood and Hollywood, and they're already shooting all key scenes with dummy artistes, checking camera angles, pre-shoot classes to actual artistes... it's going to be made with much care!

NaChaKi: You said earlier that you sign for a film based on the script. Did it happen to you that a script appeared very different on paper and on celluloid?
Sharwanand: The script should make me feel like I must do it! I do all the thinking before I sign, and so I'd coolly participate in shooting for 5-6 months without worrying "What next?" ...It never happened in my case that the script changed its shape and form during the translation from paper to celluloid. In some cases, it did happen, but those were films that I heard the stories for but didn't sign. So, I am possibly on the right track... It's not to offend anybody, but I am only making my effort to be a part of good films. I may be wrong, or I may be right... It's not like I am right all the time. For example, I liked Amma Cheppindi and thought it'd be the biggest film in my career, and I still like it...

NaChaKi: Is it a solo hero film again? We hear Saikumar and Sandeep Kishan (of Snehageetam) are also among the cast...
Sharwanand: It's a solo hero film. They're playing supporting roles in the films, and it's a solo hero film.

NaChaKi: Would you say Gamyam is a solo hero film?
Sharwanand: I'd not say that! I'd say the script is the hero in the film. That was why it was a super hit in Tamil too! It's a universal concept, and thus the script is the hero, I'd say.

NaChaKi: Coming back to Tamil films, are you signing more films in Tamil?
Sharwanand: As of now, I am only concentrating on Telugu. I am not considering Tamil films unless I am narrated an exciting script...

NaChaKi: I heard that A.M. Rathnam is considering to make another film with you...?
Sharwanand: Yeah, they've been asking me, but I haven't finalized anything as of now. I'd do a film any day if he'd approach me, since he was the one who introduced me into Tamil.

NaChaKi: How do you plan to balance an image in Tamil, career in Telugu, and your business - Beenz coffee shop?
Sharwanand: The coffee shop is put up for my younger brother and would be taken care of by him completely. I am not into business at all. And, there's no particular plan to work for Telugu and Tamil together. I generally prefer working for film after film. Even now, I made it a point to not start my next film until I complete Raju-Maharaju since that film demanded such a dedication. But, we shot for 100 days, spanning over 8 months and thus Chandra Siddhartha's film got delayed. Otherwise, I should have completed that one too before Deva's film started. It really doesn't matter that I am doing two films simultaneously. I'm not rigid about working film after film or working for more than one at a time. If I should, I would.

We continued to speak for a little while more, before I thanked him profusely for his time, and wished him all the best for his career, also wishing success for Raju-Maharaju.

Interview: NaChaKi
Acknowledgments: Sri Atluri

Sharwanand's Filmography:

December 5va Taareekhu (2004)
Gowri (2004)
Shankar Dada MBBS (2004)
Yuvasena (2004)
Sankranthi (2005)
Vennela (2005)
Lakshmi (2006)
Amma Cheppindi (2006)
Veethi (2006)
Classmates (2007)
Gamyam (2008)
Kaadal Na Summa Illai (2008) (Tamil)
Naalai Namadai (2009) (Tamil)
Raju-Maharaju (2009)
Chandra Siddhartha's film (No title yet) (In making, slated for 2009 release)
Prasthanam (In making, slated for 2009 release)