In a happy space

Nagarjuna is in the best phase of his career. After delivering three hits on the trot ‘Manam,’ ‘Soggade Chinni Nayana’ and ‘Oopiri’—he is presently looking forward to the release of ‘Nirmala Convent,’ which he co-produced along with bestie Nimmagadda Prasad. Not to forget he is also playing a key role in the teen drama, which features Srikanth’s son Roshan and Shriya Sharma.

Spelling reasons on why he decided to associate with the project, the Southern supremo, at a promotional event of the film in Hyderabad on Vinayaka Chavithi, noted, “More than being a fresh take on teen romance, it was an inspiring story, a factor which drove me to associate with it. The message in the film is: love can conquer anything.”

He clarified that he is not confining himself to a cameo in the film. “It’s a crucial role. Guess this is the first instance in my career where the hero is someone else and I’m playing a key supporting role. I’d be seen throughout the second half,” he said thoughtfully.

Given the way his solo career is going, didn’t he consider his image before saying yes to star in the project? “I’ve reached where I’m because I’ve never bothered about my image,” he asserted shortly. Nag has also effortlessly crooned for a number ‘Kotha kotha bhasha’, giving the film a much-needed impetus on the publicity front.

He informed that when composer Roshan Saluri approached him to sing, he didn’t think twice. “When I started off (as an actor), most people had issues with my tone, saying that it was my weak link. In fact, during dubbing, some directors even insisted me to dub cautiously and advised me to desist from screaming.

So when someone comes to me and says, ‘Your voice is good, why don’t you sing? I would jump at the opportunity straightaway.’ And the same happened with ‘Kotha kotha bhasha,’” he laughed. “Moreover, it was not a difficult song to croon.”

After ‘Nirmala Convent,’ which he is planning to release on September 16, Nag would be seen in ‘Om Namo Venkatesaya.’ He said he is extremely confident about the devotional drama. “Director K Raghavendra Rao has channelised all his energies on the film. I haven’t side this side of him for a long time.

The sequences that we have shot till now have come out well… Keeravani has rendered soulful music,” he exulted and added that they are looking to release the film for Sankranti. “Once I lock a release date, I stick to it. We want to release it for Sankranti but we are not sure as the film involves a lot of CG and special effects.”

Nag is equally excited about his sons’ forthcoming films under Annapurna Studios. About Chaitanya’s film with Kalyan Krishna, he shared, “It will be on the lines of my most favourite film ‘Ninne Pelladatha’ and will boast of good star cast.” On Akhil’s film with Vikram Kumar, he revealed, “Vikram is my favourite director. He narrated me a love story during ‘Manam’ itself.

I liked it, but even before I paid him an advance amount, he got busy with ‘24.’ He married recently and I would like to give him a break of two weeks, post which I will ask him to pack his bags to Annapurna (smiles).” He also said that that the sequel to ‘Soggade Chinni Nayana,’ ‘Bangarraju,’ is very much on. “May be I’ll start it next year.” And what about very much-in-love Chay and Akhil’s marriage dates? “I would announce the dates on an auspicious day,” he pointed out.