Industry has spread negative talk about Heart...

Says actor Nithiin who had the last laugh as his film is running to packed houses. “I don’t know whether such people hate me or Puri garu but it’s good that their mouths are shut now,” he adds

Almost written off for the second half of last decade, actor Nithiin has realized his strength and is now a force to reckon with. With his latest film, ‘Heart Attack’, hitting the bull’s eye, he has completed a hat trick of box-office hits. One expects the actor to be gung-ho about it he isn’t. “I’ve been at the other end of a film’s show for long; so success or failure doesn’t affect me because I know their worth. I’m just working and moving on,” he says. However, the one thing that pleased him is the film’s revenue. “It’s my biggest opener for the first three days.”

Collaborating with director Puri Jagannadh was all fun and frolic, he smiles. “He is a chilled out director. Even if there’s some problem on sets, he stays calm and handles the situation in a composed manner. I always believed that if a director is positive and keeps his surroundings relaxed, it reflects on the film. I can vouch that he is my favourite director.”

He insists that his chemistry with Adah Sharma has “struck right chords.” “I don’t get to see her for the first 30 minutes of the latter half. When I finally bump into her, audiences were whistling in screens. It’s a pointer that our chemistry paid off.”

The suave actor was in tears watching first show. Spotting Nithiin, Puri too turned poignant. “Before the film released, industry has spread negative talk, saying that it was a bad film. Nobody has caught the film nor they were aware of the story but some people said they’ve watched it before spreading negative propaganda about it. Such things are common with other films too but it escalated to greater heights with our film,” he recalls and adds, “After hearing such bunkum, I was firm that the film does well. When I sat with the audience, I couldn’t control my emotions, seeing the way they’ve embraced the film, especially the last 40 minutes.”

As is the case with Nithiin’s earlier films, there is a reference about his favourite actor Pawan Kalyan in ‘Heart Attack’ too, but the actor insists that he can never exercise Pawan’s name to endorse his film. “I like him and he knows it. He is fond of me too, or else he would have never mentioned my name at ‘Rey’ music launch a fortnight ago. I’ve turned a hero because of him and he is my cinema God. Through certain portions in my films, I’m showing my affection towards him.”

Up next, he would be working with Karunakaran and Srinivas Reddy. The latter is a former assistant to Surendar Reddy. “Srinivas’ film muhurat is on February 9 while Karunakaran’s film, a romantic comedy, would go on floors by the end of Feb or early March. Both will be made under my home banner.”

So, he is not open for outside producers? “I know whether the project is heading towards the right direction or not during the shoot. Some producers don’t space enough capital to promotions which are vital these days. If I associate with my own banner, I can promote it the way I can and can reshoot it too when something goes awry, like the way we’ve shot both ‘Ishq’ and ‘Gunde Jaari Gallanthayyinde’. I can’t have the same liberty with other producers.”

He adds, “A producer should also be vigilant on the film’s sets. He should see whether the director is filming what he had narrated to him. If I come across such a producer, I won’t hesitate to join forces with him.”