‘Dasari uncle thinks far ahead than the younger lot’

Says Manchu Vishnu, who has teamed up with the veteran for ‘Erra Bassu’. “Working with him is like an aspiring cricketer taking tips from Sachin Tendulkar,” he adds

Actor-producer Manchu Vishnu considers himself fortunate to have got the opportunity to collaborate with storytellers like Dasari Narayana Rao and Ram Gopal Varma this year. “Especially with Dasari uncle it’s like an aspiring cricketer taking tips from Sachin Tendulkar,” he says as he awaits the release of the veterans ‘Erra Bassu’, scheduled to open in cinema halls this Friday. “After the release of ‘Anukshanam’ I was confident of essaying any character. Around the same time, Dasari uncle rang me and said that he has a film for me. Straight away I said yes. Later I came to know that it was the remake of ‘Manjapai’.”

He continues, “Days before we took the film on to floors I watched the Tamil version. I was in tight spot whether I can pull the role or not but uncle said he believes me. His words gave me the required confidence.” Quiz him if he never had any apprehensions to star in the film bearing in mind that Dasari has not delivered a big hit for more than ten years and that he is tagged as someone who couldn’t meet today’s demands, he responds, “People often compare the talent of a person with his success ratio. His talent is immense and the likes of Ram Gopal Varma and Rajamouli rate his films like ‘Sivaranjani’ and ‘Chillarakottu Chittamma’ in high esteem. I feel he is far ahead than the current lot.”

About the film, he says it’s a drama between a grandfather and his grandson. It’s also peppered with romance, he adds. “The grandson is about to leave to US in three months following his work commitments, so he asks his grandfather, who has raised him, to be with him till his departure. How the younger folk’s life changes over the next three months is what the film all about. The climax will leave the audience in tears.” Of late the actor has been remaking Tamil films, including his next (with Deva Katta) too. He says exciting scripts are not coming his way.

“When I have a good script in Tamil why not I take the liberty of producing it in Telugu? Having said that if an interesting script knocks my doors I’m more than happy to star and produce it,” he says. About producing a sequel to his first super hit ‘Dhee’, he says, “’Dhee 2’ will go on floors next summer. The script is ready. I haven’t zeroed in on the director yet.”