Charan talks about movies and babies

Who wouldn’t want to be directed by a celebrated filmmaker like Mani Ratnam? I want his film with me to make money and we will come up with such a subject in the future – Ram Charan

As he meets us after more than a year, actor Ram Charan is in a relaxed mood, eagerly waiting for the release of ‘Govindudu Andarivadele’ (GA), his latest flick. Like the film’s producer Ganesh Bandla, the actor too is extremely confident that the film will wins the hearts of the Telugu people. Terming the film as an emotional family drama, he says, “Since ‘Magadheera’, I’ve been waiting to do a complete family entertainer; however things didn’t fell in place. And when I finally realised that its time, the only name that crossed my mind was that of Krishna Vamsi. Though many directors approached me with family subjects, I somehow couldn’t connect to their stories until Vamsi bounced me the idea of ‘GA’.”

A fan of the director’s body of works like ‘Ninne Pelladatha’, ‘Murari’ and ‘Chandamama’, he says working with the director was a big learning curve. “He is one director who gave me a handful of options to emote a particular sequence in different ways. In fact, the inputs that he gave me during the dubbing helped the film in a massive way,” he says. Did he find it challenging to work with the director who is known to push the envelope? “As a matter of fact, I wanted someone who pushes the envelope.”

About the film, he says it’s inspired from the late ANR-starrer ‘Seetharamaiah Gari Manavaralu’.”However, it’s a different screenplay altogether. It will be a pleasant watch. Last 30 minutes of the film will standout,” says Charan, who plays Abhiram, an NRI. “It’s close to what I’m in my real life. I feel like carrying the same character in my forthcoming films too.”

Shifting focus to his imminent projects, he says the project with Sreenu Vaitla will boil down to the script. “We’re still in talks. I haven’t committed to anyone as of now. I’m firm believer in script dictating terms. I only taken my remuneration a week before the shoot commences. If I’m not happy with a script I opt out of the project like I did with Koratala’s film,” he says, while adding, “I liked his subject to begin with but after hearing the complete story post the film’s launch, I somehow felt that it didn’t fit me.”

So, what happened with Mani Ratnam’s film? We hear the acclaimed director met the actor with a script recently. “Together we felt that it was something that didn’t suit both of us. It’s being done by Mammootty’s son Dulquer Salmaan now. If people catch the film tomorrow, they’ll get to know why I backed out of it,” he says. “Who wouldn’t want to be directed by a celebrated filmmaker like Mani Ratnam? I want his film with me to make money and we will come up with such a subject in the future.”

Does that mean he is not game for experimenting, “No, not at the cost of a producer’s money. I want everyone associated with my film to be happy. I don’t want a situation where I win awards and my producer loses his money,” he responds.

The actor also has plans to star in a Bollywood flick next year. “It’s pretty early to talk about it right now but I will be collaborating with Ashutosh Gowariker next year.” Reacting to the scathing reviews that he got for his debut B-town flick, he says, “Maybe I didn’t understand the character completely or I was not completely focused.”

Meanwhile, the actor, who is entering into the aviation business with a company called Turbo Megha Airways Private Limited, is also expected to come out with a film studio in Visakapatnam shortly. Quiz the actor, who says he is not cut out for business, if a parallel industry is viable in the land of beaches, he shares, “As of now it’s not viable but down the lane there’s a possibility. If an actor wants to stay in Vizag and shoot there for 30 days, a studio setup always helps.”

On a lighter note, ask him when he is going to welcome a baby into his family, he chuckles, “I’m still a child at heart. When I handle myself properly I will think of babies.”