Producers could have done more

Chay on ‘Premam’ post-release promotions

The actor talks about ‘Ye Maaya Chesave’ hangover in ‘Sahasam Swasaga Sagipo,’ how excited is the Akkineni household about Akhil’s engagement and his plans of doing a bilingual

‘Premam,’ which released last month, has ended Naga Chaitanya’s poor streak at the box-office as his last three releases ‘Autonagar Surya’, ‘Oka Laila Kosam’ and ‘Dohchay’ failed to set the cash registers ringing. Opening to strong positive word of mouth, the romantic drama has gone on to mint big money but a section of Akkineni fans felt that that it didn’t reach where it should have been in spite the potential.

Chay, choosing his words cautiously, admits that he would be been happier had the film ran more. “As an actor, I’ve co-operated completely with the production house but I don’t know where the gap came. Definitely, they could have done little more,” he states, lost in thought.

The suave actor is presently looking forward to the release of ‘Sahasam Swasaga Sagipo’ (SSS). The romantic actioner, which marks him teaming up with mentor Gautham Menon after five years, was supposed to hit the screens last December but various issues led to its deferment constantly.

He says the first half of the film will be more like an extension of ‘Ye Maaya Chesave’ (YMC). “I play a college pass out who is pondering over what to do next career-wise. Around this period, he falls in love.

As the story begins to unfold, his love interest receives a threat and how he bails her out and wins her love is what the film all about,” Chay informs, adding that second half would be more of action-centric, which Gautham dealt very realistically. “I hope with this film, people would accept me as an action hero, too.”

Chay insists that it didn’t take much time for him to get familiar with Gautham school of natural acting despite the fact that he had done a battery of commercial films after ‘YMC’. “I’ve always look forward to Gautham sir’s style. In fact, in all my other movies, I tried to be as natural as I could.

That is something I learnt from him and would never try to forget it,” he points out, admitting that he has come a long way as an actor after ‘YMC’ and it was relatively easy for the master of romance to direct him this time around. “I’ve put lesser pain on him during ‘SSS’ as far as takes were concerned. The experience of doing eight other films helped me to understand him better.”

Chay who is fluent in Tamil has been harbouring dreams of making his Kollywood debut since long. In fact, he wanted to star in both the versions of ‘SSS’ but by the time he came on board for the film, the Tamil version with Simbu, ‘Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada,’ had already gone to floors. “I told Gautham sir to cast me for both the versions next time around.

I believe that its time our heroes too consider bilinguals because our stories are universal. My aim next year is to do a bilingual,” he asserts. His younger brother Akhil’s engagement (to designer Shriya Bhupal) is around the corner and he admits that wedding atmosphere has set in at the Akkineni household with family members on a shopping spree. “Everyone is excited and is looking forward to all the events.

I’m told his wedding would be performed in Rome, Italy in May,” he says, indicating that he might marry his sweetheart Samantha in ‘YMC’ style after Akhil ties the knot. “A Christian wedding might follow a wedding according to Hindu custom but let’s see.”

Chay’s date diary is filled for a large part of 2017 too with directors like Kalyan and Indraganti Mohanakrishna in line for him once he is through with ‘Soggade Chinni Nayana’ director Kalyan Krishna’s next, which he begins on Wednesday, but drops a hint that he might star in ‘2 States’ Telugu remake if the script changes convince him.

While Talkies has learnt that Samantha is more or less confirmed to play his romantic interest, Chay is yet to be narrated the script. “I’m supposed to meet the concerned parties soon,” he ends.