If I wasn’t an actor I would’ve been a producer

Says actor Nara Rohit as he talks about doing films with new directors, his Friday release ‘Asura’, turning producer, why his peddananna Nara Chandrababu Naidu wants his films to be commercial and more…

Given his rich background, actor Nara Rohit, nephew of AP CM N Chandrababu Naidu, has been mostly collaborating with new filmmakers. While it is another story altogether that he has made a mark for himself still, the suave actor says he is working with people who feel “he suits best for their roles.”

“Directors who believe that I will do justice to roles are approaching me and if I like what they narrate, I’m doing their films. I believe in giving opportunity to newcomers because everyone starts off as one. Who knows they might become top directors in the future?” says the actor, whose next film ‘Asura’ releases on Friday.

Nonetheless, the actor is aware of the fact that a smash hit has eluded him so far. “I believe that one should keep trying until they succeed. The thing is my films – ‘Prathinidhi and ‘Rowdy Fellow’ – are a hit on YouTube and the small screen but somehow they didn’t do great commercially.

It could be because of the wrong release date and lack of advertising but with ‘Asura’, which is my co-production, I’ve ensured that everything – from promotions to release date – is sketched accordingly.”

Describing the film, shot predominantly in and around Hyderabad in flat 50 days, as a screenplay-driven action thriller, he says he plays a prison officer Dharma in the flick. “I’m a work devil who is intense yet restrained. It’s my most commercial film till date with punch dialogues, lots of action blocks and an item song,” he smiles.

The actor played a cop in his last release ‘Rowdy Fellow’. Isn’t he being too repetitive? “As a matter of fact, ‘Asura’ should have released after ‘Pandagala Vachchadu’. The latter is a romantic comedy. Since three days of shoot was pending, we went ahead with ‘Asura’,” he responds.

The film is the actor’s first brush at production and he says turning a producer was long due. “If I was not an actor I would have been a producer because I’m extremely passionate about cinema. I’ve been thinking of producing a film for long and things fell into place with this film. Moreover, I go a long way with the film’s director Krishna Vijay.

He has been travelling with me for the past five years. In fact, we teamed up for ‘Madrasi’ but couldn’t complete it due to various reasons.” Shifting focus from movies, he says peddananna Chandrababu Naidu makes time to watch his films.

“He, however, couldn’t watch ‘Pratinidhi’ and ‘Rowdy Fellow’ as he was extremely busy,” he avers. “He wants my films to be more commercial. I can understand that as he is used to mass masala cinema and everyone from the family is also into similar kind of films. But he now understands that I have my own track.”

On the personal front, the actor says he will get married after his elder brother. “Guess it will take another year for me to tie the knot. Till then let me enjoy the freedom of being alone,” he smiles, signing off.

By Nagaraj Goud