DeMon thwarting dreams of aspiring producers: Naresh

Allari Naresh-starrer ‘Intlo Deyyam Nakem Bhayam’ (IDNB) was the first Tollywood movie to be affected by central government’s decision to invalidate high-value currency notes. Originally slotted for November 12, the film had been deferred and is now releasing this Friday.

“Film industry was one among the many industries that took a hit because of demonetisation. Postponing the movie was a right call as people were not in a position to visit theatres last month. Things are getting better now,” Naresh says.

‘IDNB’ is the lanky actor’s third film with director G Nageswara Reddy after hits like ‘Seema Sastri’ and ‘Seema Tapakai’. “We have been planning to team up since 2014 and after two failed ideas, he narrated a horror comedy line. It was a first of its kind for me. I have okay-ed it in one minute,” he informs, adding that in the film he is a part of wedding troupe who eventually turns into a tantrik.

“I don’t believe in the existence of ghosts but due to certain situations I am required to turn a tantrik who should eliminate a ghost from a house, which is about to witness a marriage. How he hides the ghost’s existence from wedding planners and how the ghost thwarts his actions are told in a comic way.”

The film also marks the actor teaming up with producer BVSN Prasad, who is his family friend, for the first time. Prasad is known for big-budgeted entertainers like ‘Attarintiki Daaredhi’ and ‘Nannaku Prematho’. The actor wants the T-town heavy hitter to strike a balance between big films and small films in the future. “He should set an example for new producers. Because of cash crunch, many aspiring producers are not willing to get into the industry,” he confides.

Moving forward, the actor wants to refrain from entertaining films conceived with spoofs as he had enough of them. However, “Though I want to try different cinema, many producers want to make comedy entertainers with me and I don’t have any issues with that as long as the scripts are sensible. My experiments like ‘Laddu Babu’ have failed, so I feel people always expect comedy from me. It’s just that I want to balance comedy with a sensitive emotional point,” he points out, referring to his films like ‘Gamyam’ and ‘Shambo Shiva Shambo’.

Is it true that at times he gets too involved with the script of a film, thereby undermining the director’s capabilities? Begging to differ, he clarifies, “My father once told me: if you are fully convinced with a script, then green-lit it; if you aren’t, then clear your apprehensions before going to sets. I have been following the advice of his for years. But having said that I have always been a firm believer on improvising on sets.”

Naresh has recently turned a father and admits to be enjoying fatherhood, saying that seeing his daughter Ayana Evika Edara for the first time was the happiest moment of his life. “I believe that you become more responsible after turning a father than after getting married,” he smiles.

He has an interesting line-up of films for 2017. While his film, the remake of Malayalam hit ‘Oru Vadakkan Selfie’ with ‘Ala Ela’ fame director Anish, has been pushed to February because of demonetisation, he has given his nod to Bheemaneni Srinivas Rao and newcomer Satish. “Film with Bheemaneni will be a comic caper.

We have locked an idea recently and he is developing it. I also have a surprise announcement to make in the New Year,” he reveals. As his schedule is packed in 2017, he has also postponed his direction plans. “Though I am not fully ready for direction, the experience of which I hope to gain in the coming years, I’d be releasing my directorial in May 2020. The month of May has always been lucky for me,” he signs off.