Naveen Chandra in Tripura film

While actor Naveen Chandra’s career took off after making a promising debut with ‘Andala Rakshasi’ three years ago, his resume is still deprived of a super hit. Nonetheless, the actor, who is awaiting the release of ‘Geetanjali’ director Raajkiran’s ‘Tripura’, is aware of what went wrong. “After my debut film I accepted more of character-driven films, causing the undoing. With ‘Tripura’ I’ve realised the value of a complete script with emphasis on strong supporting characters,” he states.

The actor is excited about his role in the “horror thriller sprinkled with comedy, romance and family drama”. “I play a psychiatrist who gets married to Swathi. The role has its own shades as I was required to be the hero and the villain at the same time,” he enthuses. As a part of his prepping up to play psychiatrist, Naveen met his doctor friends in Bengaluru.

“I spent a week with them to understand how they go about their business. They generally make eye to eye contact with their patients and I incorporated the same into the film while interacting with Swathi and Rao Ramesh. He is a modern-age physician with beard,” he smiles wide. Admittedly, he had butterflies in his stomach as he began filming with Swathi. “I was on the edge initially considering her rank but I was confident about my abilities. At the same time I was given an intense role; personally too I’m intense in real life and that helped.

“Moreover, we shot (the film) the way it unfolds on big-screen. It was not like let’s wrap up the climax first and then opt for talkie portions and numbers. Director Raajkiran was keen on us getting into the mood of characters before we proceed with the meatier portions and this practice helped us to gel well,” he shares.

The actor insists that the much-publicised wedding sequence with Swathi turned out to be an easier said than done episode for him. “It was the first day of the shoot for both of us and the moment I saw Swathi in a wedding outfit I was tensed. And when I dropped by the shooting spot I felt like ‘are these people really getting me married off or what’. Even Swathi echoed a similar feeling,” he guffaws, adding, “The mangalsutra episode was even tougher.

My legs and hands trembled while enacting it. I felt that even if you want to fake a marriage you need to have guts.” Guess the experience must help him considering that he will tie the knot in real life soon? “Yes, it should,” he declares. Ask him about his fiancé and he chooses to remain mum. “I’m waiting for a hit currently and when I achieve it, I will reveal her identity,” he says apologetically.