I’ve come a long way

Sundeep Kishan on getting ‘Okka Ammai Thappa’ made, career and joining forces with Krishna Vamsi

Little did Sundeep Kishan, after making multiple efforts to find a producer for ‘Okka Ammai Thappa’ in 2012-13, know that the same script will come calling in 2015! Insisting that the script was destined to happen with him, he recalls, “I had the scripts of both ‘Venkatadri Express’ and ‘Okka Ammai Thappa’ with me. Since the former, unlike the latter, was less complicated to shoot, it got funding easily.”

What kind of complications? “70 per cent of ‘Okka Ammai Thappa’ unfolds on a flyover, requiring us 400-500 vehicles and 1,000 junior artistes for a major part of the filming. Not to forget the consent to shoot on a flyover and money for computer graphics. So the setup was big, hence we were keen on a producer who trusted our vision.”

While they found Anji Reddy later to pool in resources, Sundeep had to give up on his fee to help the film take shape. “When we want something so desperately, we have to let go of some things. Over here it was my remuneration as I didn’t want to put additional burden on the producer. I’ve decided to stake a claim in the profits,” he asserts.

Talking about the film, the actor informs, “It’s the story of Krishna (Sundeep) and Satyabhama (Nithya Menen) who are struck in a traffic jam at Hi Tech City flyover. As it progresses, Krishna realises it’s not an ordinary jam and there’s more to it than what meets the eye. It’s told in a gripping way, albeit peppered with humour.”

Krishna, he shares, is a college dropout who is extremely confident and cares about the society. “He is a mind reader,” he puts it shortly. It is for the first time that Sundeep is romancing Nithya Menen and the actor points out that they had her in mind to play Satyabhama initially. “The prerequisite was a known face who looks pleasant at the outset. Also, the role required one to portray myriad of emotions convincingly.

Nithya was our first choice, before we approached a host of other names. Thankfully it finally went back to her,” he maintains. But isn’t Nithya missing from the promotions? “She will join the post release promotions. Since our release date was locked recently, she couldn’t adjust her date diary. She is currently shooting for Sudeep’s film and believe me she wants to spread a word or two about the film,” he avers, flashing a smile.

Sundeep, despite not having a good success percentage as a solo hero, doesn’t believe in playing it safe. “Whenever you want to tell something new to the audience, you should take the risk. Sometimes it might work, sometimes it might not. I took a risk with ‘Venkatadri Express’ and ‘Tiger’ and both paid off. Similarly I took a risk with ‘Run’, which tanked. With ‘Okka Ammai Thappa’, we checked what we shot multiple times just to ensure that we haven’t faulted anywhere.”

Having gotten into showbiz six years ago, he admits he has come a long way. “I don’t know where I stand in the industry but one thing’s for sure is that I’ve come a long way. My next is with Krishna Vamsi, with whom I just wanted to get clicked some six years ago. Life has come a full circle for me. Ups and downs are a part of any field but I’m in a happy space,” he exults.

He will be playing a constable in Vamsi’s ‘Nakshatram’ and has already started prepping up for it. “I’ve been to a Hyderabad-based police station some 10 times in the last one month. I’ve shot for the film only for two days and will be back on the sets on Monday. It’s a psychically draining film, which requires my full attention. It will also be my biggest budgeted venture. I will not sign any other film until I finish it,” he confides, further revealing that after he is done with the film, he will take a break of two weeks before deciding on next endeavours.

By Nagaraj Goud