Going with the trend

Gopichand is one of those actors in Tollywood among the present crop who has managed to make a successful transition from a villain to a lead actor. “My journey has been pretty amazing. I’ve seen lots of ups and downs and learnt a lot over a period of time. It has been a great experience and I treasure every moment of it,” explains Gopichand, who’s next film ‘Soukhyam’ is set to unspool this Thursday.

“It’s not a new story; it's a simple plot and the USP is not so much the twists in the tale, but how it unravels. The screenplay is the difference-maker. It is the reason why I teamed up with AS Ravikumar Chowdary for the second time after ‘Yagnam’,” he adds.

Although, ‘Soukhyam’ is not a colloquial title, the actor believes that it would be justified after the audience watch the film. “I know the word ‘Soukhyam’ is passé but after listening to the script and the treatment, I’m sure the audience will echo my feeling,” conjectures the actor, who is playing an introvert in the film. “I play a person who is reserved but will lock horns with people who take him on.”

Like his earlier film ‘Loukyam’, this new effort of his too will be high on entertainment. “These days entertaining the audience is the key and what better way to enthral them than (with) comedy. I’m someone who always likes to go with the trend and audience pulse.

Since comedy woven into the narrative is the latest fad, it was a conscious attempt to focus more on it,” explains the actor, adding, “they stuck to a proper commercial format hoping that it will strike a chord with the audience.” Gopichand concurs to playing safe when it comes to his film genres, ruling out the possibility of delving to deeper waters. “Yes, I’m playing it safe and I have a reason to be so.

I want my producer and buyers to be safe. I don’t want to put their lives at stake. My producer has to come back and make another film, and I don’t want to take a risk in the pretext of doing an experimental film,” he insists.

The actor opines that doing comic scenes is a cakewalk than slogging out for the action scenes. “It’s pretty easy to do comic scenes,” he smiles, “I’m also game to try my hands at something new, provided it’s within the limited budget.”

On the personal front, Gopichand seems to be enjoying his fatherhood. “Yeah, it’s a new experience and my son is just beginning to walk. He’s my world when I’m at home. I recently bought some car toys for him,” signs off the actor with a broad grin.