I do a film if I enjoy the emotion

Shares Daggubati Venkatesh alias Venky, Peddodu, Shadow."For me it is the combination of business and entertainment," he adds, spelling out the reason he agrees to do a film and how each of his decision helped him grow as an actor and an individual The best compliment I received for 'SVSC' was a message � "I am watching life" � What more can I ask for? Rajeshwari Kalyanam Shares Daggubati Venkatesh alias Venky� For me it is the combination of business and entertainment, he adds, spelling out the reason he agrees to do a film and how each of his decision helped him grow as an actor and an individual He is the one who will greet everyone around him with a warm smile all the way to the stage to launch an audio or announce a big success, the very next day he is all this committed captain of his Celebrity Cricket League team. One day you see him amongst the select few in Indian actor fraternity invited to meet Hollywood director Steven Spielberg and the next day he gives a pleasant surprise appearing on your TV screen readily waving when he is spotted on screen cheering his favourite IPL team at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru and not to speak of his numerous appearances on the cable channels as Pellikani Prasad of 'Malliswari', Venky alias Venkateswarlu of' Nuvvu Naaku Nachaav', as 'Tulasi', 'Lakshmi' and more such films that have remained timeless entertainers. When he entered into Telugu films, his idea of acting was more western, like in the many international movies that he loved watching. He, however, learnt that he cannot have it all his way. "In the beginning it was difficult, especially because my thinking was very modern, and down here that style was not accepted and I had to take what was there." That said; Venky has had his own share of variety over the years.

'Prema', 'Swarnakamalam', 'Satruvu', 'Sundarakanda', 'Dharma Chakram', 'Raja', 'Pavitra Bandham', 'Preminchukundam Raa', 'Jayam Manadera' � Action, romance, family drama, rom-coms, revenge thrillers and films with classic touch � he has done it all. "Finally, I could be myself, I could act my way. I could see myself having freedom. But every time you attempt something different, it is a challenge, with people around saying that the decision is wrong, whether it was during the making of 'Chanti', 'Pavitra Bandham' or 'Pelli Chesukundam'." "I did not go looking out for a certain kind of film. You go with the flow, choose from what is available at that time, ensure there is minimum guarantee and try to see if there is variety. Many have approached me and in my own way I worked and did all kinds of roles." Being from the top production family down South, he understands the importance of the commercial aspects and at no point compares himself with the younger lot of heroes who are all for experimenting including his nephew Rana � To each his own � he says, "I do a film if I am enjoying the emotion � For me it is the combination of business and entertainment." His choice of a film is evidently not just based on being different each time. So what made him accept 'Seethamma Vaakitlo Sirimalle Chettu' (SVSC) � Despite being a film starring two big heroes, the film did not have action � None at all, no punch dialogues, no larger than life images of the heroes and Venkatesh's role especially left the fans disappointed on the first day � not enough length for their hero was the general contention. However, the box office said a different story. The film that created a sensation even as several industry insiders wondered about what worked for the film. "My intention was clear, that it has been a long time since the actors did their characters and gone. I knew my character's emotion will catch the attention. And I wanted newer audience, all those who have been sitting at home and not coming to theatres. For people who are stunned by the kind of response 'SVSC' got, I would say that the huge success has been because of the extra 30% who have not see the films in theatres since the last four or five years. They added to the collections. For the first time they looked beyond footage or songs of the lead actors. It was a calculated risk and deep down, I knew it would work. In fact, when Mahesh was expressing a few doubts, I assured him. The best example was Sydney which is known to have 700 Telugu film watching folks. 3,000 people came to watch it. Where did these extra numbers come from? I know that people who watched it genuinely as a film have tremendously liked it. The best compliment I received was a message � "I am watching life" � What more can I ask for? For Venky the success of 'SVSC' is past, he is currently gearing up for his next big release, 'Shadow' and busy shooting the Telugu version of 'Bol Bachchan'. His dream project � a film on Vivekananda has to fall in place as he waits for the right team which is sensitive enough to handle the project, but he is not worried. "If it is destined to happen it will. And if it won't then probably it was not to be," Venky's pragmatic philosophy of life resurfaces. Since Venky was drawn to spirituality he has been everywhere � I have even been to Himalayas, but didn't find anything there � he confesses. Finally it all boiled down to the 'Now'. "The real purpose is to know your true self. Something beyond Venkatesh - World is not permanent � permanent is only you" � he says, "There is no point lamenting on decision already taken. Once it is taken, stick to it and move forward." He adds an interesting view to life � "There is nothing like low or high time � Be it success or failure - This too shall pass. If you are bound by time, then you will feel that whatever is happening will remain - but if you are not bound, you realise that it is, but a temporary phase." Telugu audience have seen so much of Venkatesh; through his films, through the many public appearances and through the numerous interviews and through his thoughts that he willingly shares with people around him�yet there is this real Venkatesh within the actor who can be in a crowd and still be with himself completely, living and loving each moment of his life whole heartedly.