Stills: NTR in Yamadonga
NTR. The name spells magic among the Telugu audience. For, Late NTR was an icon and legendary actor and politician. His grandson, NTR, is true successor in the third generation. With just first two films, he became a star and after
Simhadri, he rose to a position that many stars would envy for. NTR, a true resemblance to his grandfather in physique and to an extent in acting, is now coming up with Yamadonga, and hopes to bounce back and satisfy all his innumerous fans across the world. This is the third time that he is working with his Jakkanna (director S S Rajamouli) and believes that their magic works again. Here he spoke to TC.com in this exclusive interview about various issues. Excerpts from the interview..
Lets begin with
Yamadonga. How did the film happen? Why did you take three years to be re-united with Rajamouli?
Before we talk about
Yamadonga, let us talk about my association with Jakkanna (Rajamouli). Both of us began our careers almost at the same time. When Ashwinidutt and Raghavendra Rao garu called me for their office and introduced Rajamouli to me, I had no confidence on him. I didn't know anything about him. My first film,
Ninu Choodalani, was not a big hit. Here he came after directing a TV serial,
Santhi Nivasam, to direct me! But we began working and he gave me the first hit. Today whatever I have achieved and having huge fans, it is because of
Student No.1 that made me dear to the audiences.
Then
Aadhi and
Simhadri followed. Both films are special to me. Though Aadhi became big hit, it is Simhadri that changed my life. Rajamouli had given me biggest hit in my career and put me in a position that every hero would envy. Again, the film also had adverse impact on my career. During these three years, none of my films satisfied the fans and audiences because they compared every film of mine with
Simhadri. For fans,
Simhadri was Vindubhojanam. So when regular meal was offered, it didn't taste them better.
Rajamouli and I wanted to work again but we felt we should come up with something that is drastically different from the So it took three years to reunite again.
Yamadonga is a socio-fantasy film. Most of your films are mass masala movies. What made you change tracks?
In the last three years,
Raakhi came like a light. It gave me space to breath. With that little encouragement, Rajamouli and I had begun discussing this project. When he asked me to what kind of subject we should choose, I said that we should go his trademark style of action movies. But Rajamouli reasoned that we have been missing a section of audiences with this kind of movies. "We need to make people laugh, cry and go to the homes with happy mood. So we should make such film that caters to all section of the audiences," he suggested. He first told me the title -
Yamadonga and said that it would be in the style of
Yamagola. I felt happy doing a film that my grand father did and at the same time shocked.
Yamagola is trendsetter in socio-fantasy films. People would naturally compare with that, so I naturally had apprehensions.
Rajamouli reasoned that Yamagola and later other movies that came with Yama backdrop had two elements - a star who has mass image and a director who is known for mass entertainers. So he convinced me that it works in our case too. Then I told him that only Mohan Babu alone does the justice to the role of Yama and convince him to do the movie if we were to go. Rajamouli went to him and told the subject. Mohan Babu gaaru immediately okayed the film saying he would accept it only for Rajamouli and me.
So we went ahead with it. But frankly speaking, I didn't know the complete story. In fact, I never asked Rajamouli. I had immense faith on him and his direction.
How was it working with Mohan Babu?
From childhood, I have great rapport and relationship with Mohan Babu uncle. When Tatayya was doing
Major Chandrakant, I used to visit the sets and his house. I used to stay at his home for days. Vishnu, Manoj and Lakshmi akka are my good friends. Mohan Babu uncle is very close to me than them. He treated me as his third son.
Apart from that, I have always been his fan. There is royal ness in his style of acting. After my grandfather NTR and SVR, you find such quality in his style. Coming to working experience with him, I should say it was great learning experience and memorable one too. To his stature, he can come to the sets anytime he wishes to be. But he comes to the location on time with full-makeup and stays till the end. He is dedicated towards acting and very professional. I have learnt those qualities from him during the shooting.
People have wrong notions about him because of his temperament. He is straightforward and speaks truth and doesn't mince words. That is why he is branded as 'tough man'. Only few people like me know his kind-hearted and child like sweetness beneath his tough nut nature.
Tell us about working with your grandfather NTR. We mean the graphical shots of Late NTR.
I haven't seen them yet. I wish to see them on the silver screen along with the audiences. It was great feeling when I was shooting for. I didn't know how my grandfather would do in that scene (laughs). Imaging him there and doing the scenes was an ecstatic feeling. I am very eager and excited to see him on the screen. You can imagine how fans and audiences would feel when they see him on the screen. That great legendary personality gave us chance to share screen with him in this film. I will always be indebted to Rajamouli for this.
After long time, there is very positive feeling among the fans and audiences regarding your movie. How do you feel for this humongous craze around
Yamadonga despite your lean phase?
Yes, true. I have been hearing so much positive talk about
Yamadonga. Probably because of our combination (Rajamouli and mine) or the posters or the success of audio, everyone is talking about it. I am glad with this.
Next Page: On rumors linking with Sameera, losing weight, next films, about his mother..
