I was happy not doing films: Venky

Venkatesh on not missing out on work despite taking a break of 10 months, Friday-release ‘Babu Bangaram’ and more…

Audience has not lost interest in my face. That’s the biggest compliment that I can ever get. 30 years is a just number to me

Eighteen months after ‘Gopala Gopala’ opened in cinemas, Victory Venkatesh is back in action with ‘Babu Bangaram’. He attributes his long absence from the silver screen to the break he took to be around his dad Ramanaidu who was diagnosed with prostate cancer (The Movie mogul eventually passed away in February 2016). “

As I started looking out for scripts after the break, Maruthi approached me with the idea of ‘Babu Bangaram.’ It was a simple line with a fresh characterisation. I’ve done cop roles earlier but ACP Krishna’s (his role) soft nature attracted me to it,” he flashbacks, insisting that the character, after realising that the conduct is too good to set certain things in order, takes a detour. “You’ll see two variations in my roles. Also, the film is set in a family atmosphere and had some scope for action too.”

But didn’t he miss being in action? “I was happy not doing films. As long as you are doing something, it’s ok. I missed doing good characters and best of the scripts,” he asserts, “I find a lot of peace when I’m alone. I also get time to meditate. Whenever I get injured I’d be the happiest guy because I get time for myself.

“I’m a very impulsive person. I slowed done last year and now I have four films lined up. I don’t understand it. He is deciding it,” he points out, referring to the Ramana Maharshi portrait in his simple office at Ramanaidu Studios. The actor is grateful to the audience for they are ‘continuing to shower love’ on him ever after he completed three decades in the showbiz.

“They have not lost interest in my face. That’s the biggest compliment that I can ever get. 30 years and all are just numbers to me. I haven’t had a plan to begin with when I started off. I never discovered myself until I forayed into films. I was living life just like that. I’ve realised my potential through films,” he reflects, stressing that everybody should discover themselves naturally and the same principle will apply to his children too.

The actor feels lucky when young filmmakers approach him with their scripts. “I’m like, ‘You think I can do this film?’ And they are like, ‘Sir, meeku brahmandamga untundi. Ee expression chaalu.’ (It will fit you aptly. This expression is enough). I’m like, ‘Vaarni’ (oops),” he laughs, admitting that he also realises that young filmmakers need not knock his office doors. “I also don’t expect them coming running to me but if they do, I’ll be happy to encourage them.”

The actor has high praise for ‘Babu Bangaram’ director Maruthi, whose keen interest to direct him was another reason that led him to sign the project. “There are a few directors who have this coolness about them and Maruthi falls in that category. I like that and it will help him moving forward. He is open to suggestions and thinks as an audience,” he raves.

Venky was supposed to work with ‘Malli Malli Idhi Raani Roju’ director Kranthi Madhav sometime back but unhappy with the way the script shaped up, he had to overlook the director for Maruthi. Is he very severe with the changes that he wants once he green-lights a director’s idea? “I’ll push the director as far as I can and I’ll be honest with my feedback,” he says shortly, admitting that it’s a worst feeling for an actor when he knows where a film is headed to during the shooting itself.

“It’s a silent suffering. You can neither notify nor remain silent. But that’s what life is about. If you are stuck, you are stuck there. But miracles do happen. Midway into the shooting, you’ll suddenly envisage a new track and the film falls in place.”

On new projects
While he admits that new-age filmmakers like Ohmkar and Ravikanth Perepu are working on something for him, he says will join the sets of ‘Salaa Khadoos’ remake shortly. “I’m on a diet for the film. It has been tailored to suit our sensibilities. I’ll finish it in two months, post which I will start shooting for Kishore Tirumala’s film ‘Aadallu … Meeku Joharlu’. It’s a full-length entertainer.” And what about his film on Swami Vivekananda? “A writer from Madras is working on the script, let’s see.”