When Nani’s wife said ok to the lip lock.

With no releases last year, Nani is compensating his absence in early 2014. While his ‘Paisa’ has already hit the screens this month, he is now awaiting the release of Yash Raj Films (YRF) ‘Aaha Kalyanam’, which will open in cinema halls this Friday in both Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. “It’s my biggest release in TN. Online bookings have generated good revenues across Chennai,” beams the actor in a chat-a-thon.

A fan of YRF’s body of work, the actor recalls how excited he was when he first heard that the production agency was foraying into South market. “I was told that many actors approached the banner asking them to cast them in their first film. So when I got a call from YRF, I considered myself to be lucky. I met the representatives in Hyderabad. When they offered me to star in the remake of ‘Band Baaja Baraat’ (BBB), I was disappointed,” he says, while adding, “I enquired whether they had any other options. I wanted to say a polite ‘no’ but asked them to give me a day to decide. While I was leaving them, they handed me ‘BBB’ DVD. I watched the film the same night and fell in love with it. I felt that the character suited me better than it did for Ranveer. I said yes the next day (smiles).”

The actor is aware that last year’s ‘Jabardasth’, starring Siddharth and Samantha, had certain similarities with ‘BBB’. “’BBB’ ran because of the chemistry between the lead pair and certain magical sequences. Before we took ‘Aaha Kalyanam’ on floors, we’ve made it a point to carry the magic forward come what may and director Gokul’s expertise came at handy. If you catch the film, you’ll get a feeling that both Shakti (Nani’s role) and Shruti (Vaani Kapoor’s role) are made for each other, though they seem to be running away,” he says.

When asked whether he had any apprehensions of starring in a film that is predominantly shot in Tamil, he was quick to respond. “In fact, many people asked me the same question in view of my good market in Andhra. As a matter of fact, I, being a Telugu, feel proud to have starred in a Tamil flick. Many Tamil heroes enjoy good base in Andhra and why can’t we emulate the same over there? At the same time, the film was to be shot in Telugu and Tamil simultaneously but the Tamil script was in place first, so we decided to go ahead with it. However, I ensured that songs are shot in Telugu too,” he smiles.

Like the original, the remake too has a lip lock scene, the actor insists. “It’s a crucial point in the film and we couldn’t avoid it (laughs). However, it was shot aesthetically. I don’t think family audience or kids will feel uncomfortable seeing it.” Has he taken permission from his wife before enacting the scene? “Yeah, I did. She had no apprehensions about it. As a matter of fact, I just took one shot to complete it,” he quips.

Working with YRF was a learning curve for him. “They go in a systematic way and meet deadlines at any cost. Every department associated with filmmaking is spread wide and every action takes place through mails,” he shares.

Having spent most of the last 18 months shooting for ‘Paisa’, ‘Aaha Kalyanam’ and ‘Jenda Pai Kapiraju’, the actor wants to take a break before he commences his next. “I did not get enough time to spend with my family after I got married. Once I wrap up the promotional activities of ‘Jenda Pai Kapiraju’ which may release next month, I will take a month off,” he says, signing off.