On a dream run

Nani on his current success streak, ‘Majnu,’ why he sees Tollywood in safe hands and ‘Eega 2’

In an industry whose success ratio is appalling Nani standouts, for his last four films ‘Yevade Subramanyam’, ‘Bhale Bhale Magadivoy’, ‘Krishnagaadi Veera Prema Gaadha’ and ‘Gentleman’ have been a profitable ventures. Is he doing something different from his peers? Nani begs to differ, saying, “If people say my story selection has been good of late, I’d say it was the same three-four years ago.

I did ‘Paisa’ and ‘Gentleman’ with the same belief that they’ll do well. But it’s just that the former failed while the latter clicked. But I’ve always given my 100 per cent. May be because of God’s blessings and certain situations, my recent efforts did well.”

He stresses that he always did scripts that excited him. “I was never like, ‘Every film of mine should be different from each other and let me experiment this time.’ And also, I never felt like going with the trend. I may err in the future with my choices but I’m happy with the way I’m going.”

But with four hits on the trot, does he feel more responsible? “No, my responsibility is the same as it was with my first film. It’s just that if I do a film which challenges me as an actor, I would be careful because now I have people who come and watch my film on day one,” he observes.

He also is keen on not dubbing the current phase of his as his best. “How can this be my first phase? If I pass away tomorrow, may be this will end as my best phase. But still there’s a lot of life for me, so I don’t think I can label this as my best phase; it’s too early,” he laughs wide.

Nani is awaiting the release of ‘Majnu’, directed by ‘Uyyala Jampala’ fame Virinchi Varma, presently. The film also features newbies Anu Emmanuel and Priya Shri. Insisting that it’s a romantic drama where love letters play a key role, he shares, “It’s set in 2012 and there’s a love failure too for my part Aditya in the film.

But he takes it in his stride and believes that it’s the beginning for other things in life. Through the film, we are trying a give new definition to the name Majnu. It is sure to the take everyone down the memory lane.”

Nani, who plays an assistant director to SS Rajamouli on the sets of ‘Baahubali’ in the film, admits that he gave Virinchi the permission to proceed in the first narration itself. “I enjoyed the narration thoroughly. When you listen to some scripts, you ask certain queries but with ‘Majnu,’ I was just hooked to the narration.

During filming, I bonded well with Virinchi and it helped us to improvise scenes big time,” he flashbacks, admitting that there’s a triangle angle in the film but it’s in a unique space. “If you ask me whether it’s a triangular love story, I can’t deny it. And if you ask if it’s limited to only two people, I can’t say yes.”

He admits that if you are not typecast, you get people knocking your doors with different scripts. “You have to choose the best of what on offer; I’m doing good films because I’m getting good scripts. It’s not my greatness. It’s the guy who brought me good scripts. There are people who complain that they don’t get good stories but I feel they are not being narrated stories.

We have stories; it’s just that those stories are not going to the complainants,” he asserts, further revealing that he has been some narrated some 10 innovative scripts of late. “The future of Tollywood is in safe good and the change is visible.”

Point it out to him on the reports of SS Rajamouli toying with the idea of ‘Eega 2’ once he is done with ‘Baahubali: The Conclusion’ and Nani is quick to add, saying, “It’s his call. I don’t know if he is planning for the sequel but I would be happy if he does.’”