Directors/Filmmakers who played important role in your career..
First and foremost I owe all the success to EVV Satyanarayana and Krishnareddy. At one time in my career, it was like a cycle - one film with EVV and Krishna Reddy doing another one immediately. I worked with them almost for 20 films. Next comes producer Ramanaidu who trusted in me and gave me some good hits. Krishnavamsi is also one director who changed my image with Khadgam. Tammareddy Bharadwaja also played important role in shaping up my career.
One experience that you always remember..
Megastar Chiranjeevi giving me moral support and making me realize my faults was the most memorable experience. During 1998 and 1999, I was going through rough patch as almost 8, 9 films bombed in a row. I was into depression and started avoiding meeting everyone in the industry. One day, Chiranjeevi called me up and asked me to come to his home for dinner. He sat with me for 3 hours and shared his experiences in his life and told me not to take failures so seriously. He gave an example of how he didnt do any film at one time for two years as every film is flopping. He gave moral support and stood by me. Even today, I recall his words when I feel down.
One success that you always cherish
The phenomenal success of Pelli Sandadi. I tasted many successes and delivered hits later but the hysteria that Pelli Sandadi created and the way people treated me in rural areas cant be described in words.
Your Favorite co-stars?
Soundarya. We did four or five films together and I like her performance, sincerity and simplicity. She was the best actress I have ever worked.
You acted with Chiru, Nag and Venky but not with Balakrishna. Is there any particular reason behind it?
I have been waiting for that chance to come. He is the only big star that I havent worked with in the industry and I am still looking for. I dont the reason but I was never offered a role in his films.
Among the big stars, with whom do you have great rapport?
I have good friendship and personal rapport with all the stars that I worked with. With Venky and Nag, I have good relationship from the beginning as I did villain roles in their movies. Later I worked as co-star with Venky (three films), Nagarjuna (Ninne Premista) and recently Chiru annayya. Though I worked with Mohan Babu in one film (Tappu Chesi Pappu Koodu), we gelled well and he is also close to me.
Are there any directors you would like to work with?
Luckily, I worked with some of the living legends like K Vishwanath (did Swarabhishekam under his direction), Bapu (Radha Gopalam) and K Raghavendra Rao (Pelli Sandadi). In the current generation, I am eagerly waiting to work with S S Rajamouli, Puri Jagannadh, V V Vinayak and Sekhar Kammula.
Will you work with current top heroes like Mahesh Babu, NTR and Ram Charan?
Sure, why not!
Your wife Ooha was a big star before your marriage with her. But we hardly see her at any public function, or film ceremonies or anywhere else these days.
It was her choice to stay away from arc lights after marriage. She likes to be at home, and being homemaker.
Does she guide you in career?
No. She scolds me sometimes when she believes that I shouldnt have accepted some films but I always take decisions on my own.
How many children you have?
Three. Elder one is Roshan. Second child is Medha, daughter. Rohan is just six months old.
Do you regret not bagging any awards?
No. I am content with the way personal and professional life has been progressed. Becoming a star itself is an achievement, never ever thought about awards.
Funda of life?
Whether we are happy with ourselves or not matters to me and nothing else. Being happy is my way of life.
When was the first time that you wanted to become an actor?
It was in 10th standard. From 8th class, film bug hit me but from 10th class it has become like obsession.
I come from Gangavati area from Karnatka and there NTRs films used to run almost regularly. After Chirus Khaidi released, I could not control my madness about films. So I ran away to Madras hoping to become actor and made rounds to the studio but no one even care to look at me. So I came back to my place again and finished graduation and then applied for Madhu Film Institute. After completing course in institute, I got chance in Usha Kiron Movies produced Peoples Encounter.
Any new commitments?
Only after the release of Mahatma, I will sign my new movies.
- Interviewed by JP
