Raaj Bala: The new kid on the block

Like many aspiring actors, Raaj Bala also felt that ‘cinema watching’ and ‘passion for acting’ is enough to bag that one elusive chance in Tollywood. Nonetheless, he realised very soon that getting that big break wouldn’t happen till he is properly trained and so he enrolled himself at an acting institute in Visakhapatnam.

“I was trained by Murthy, a former assistant to Satyanand. Later, I pursued Theatre Arts in University of Hyderabad. Eminent faces like Ram Gopal Bajaj, Mohan Maharshi and Naushad Ali were my professors at the varsity.”

After completing his post graduation (from HCU), Bala got opportunities in films like ‘Daughter of Varma’ and ‘Endhukante Premanta’ where he played small roles. Since he needed to support himself, he also tutoured lead actors of films like ‘Etu Chusina Nuvve’ and ‘Hum Tum’.

Currently shooting for ‘Lion’ and ‘Ekanta Vela’, he was also seen in the recent release ‘Love Boom’ where he played one of the three leads. “I played director Puri Jagannadh’s assistant in the film. I’m asked by him to visit Bangkok to trace his missing lighter which was gifted to him by producer Bandla Ganesh. My role has a comic side to it and it has been well received,” says the Prakasam district lad who has also shot for Ram Gopal Varma’s ‘Spot’.