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| Uday Kiran in Viyyalavari Kayyalu |
Uday Kiran - More stills..
Uday Kiran is trying to reach the pinnacle of glory again with Viyyalavari Kayyalu. He was once heartthrob to lakhs of Telugu girls. But suddenly he went through rough patch both personally and professionally and his films became sporadic. Now he is matured. There is dash of confidence too. With renewed interest and enthusiasm, he is all set to woo us with Viyyalavari Kayyalu. As he turns a year older on June 26th, TC.com met Uday Kiran for a chitchat.
How old you are?
I have completed 26 years. June 26th is my birthday.
How are you going to celebrate this birthday?
Nothing special and partying. It would be quite birthday.
You are making second innings with Viyyalavari Kayyalu…
(he cuts the question) Let us not call it second innings. Highs and lows are common in any field and every one goes through rough patch at one time or the other in their career. It is a cycle. You might get successes now and failures later. They come and go. I don’t want to call it as an 'innings'.
Okay, tell us more about this film, Viyyalavari Kayyalu !
This is very important project in my career. It has been two years since my last straight Telugu film, Aunanna Kadanna, released. I had listened to many stories in the last two years but I didn’t like them. I felt that there was monotony in my films in my last releases. I wanted to step away from being just romantic hero. I waited a right project to come my way. Even when producer Sridhar gaaru suggested two stories prior to this film, I didn’t like them. When director Sattibabu came with this storyline, I had immediately said yes as it is a complete film that caters to all audiences. Srihari and Shayaji Shinde (who is playing father to me) also have equal importance as much I do in the film.
It is not typical love story. Viyyalavari Kayyalu is like a Andhra Meals that has everything.
What is your role in the film?
I play a hair stylist. You don’t see me completely boy next door look. Mine is very stylized character in this film and very urbane.
But the film’s title is not that trendy?
The title itself tells what kind of film we are making – a complete family entertainer. Our producer has chosen this title because he wanted the title that aptly suits for the script. Also in the past, Superstar Krishna had a similar title and the film was also hit. Viyyalavari Kayyalu is not love story but ‘lovely story’. Thus the title was chosen.
You said you want to come out from the mould of a romantic hero image. That means you want plunge in to mass-oriented movies?
It is not that. In fact, you don’t get mass image just because you do one such film. It is a gradual process. If we see all our established top heroes of today – Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, Nagarjuna and Venkatesh – they have shaped up their career step by step. They didn’t get mass image with just one or two films. They are my inspiration. So I want to do varied films. I genuinely believe people in rural areas don’t recognize me. I have following among the urban audiences but I didn’t reach to the masses yet. I hope with films like Viyyalavari Kayyalu, I might be noticed by them.
Why did you jump into Tamil?
You can say, to increase my base. It is not that I jumped into the Tamil field when I am not getting offers here but with K Balachander sir’s offer (Poi in Tamil and dubbed into Telugu as Abaddam) that I stepped into Tamil. When my friends and other heroes in Telugu had learnt that I was doing KB’s film, they congratulated me wholeheartedly and said it was great chance. The film was not successful but I really cherish the experiences of doing that film. I feel fortunate enough to get acquainted with the great director.
On his troubles, two years of gap, love and more
