As his second film Oohalu Gusagusalade opens to a wide release this week, we think Naga Shaurya is a bundle of nerves. He surprises us with his confidence. Read on to know how..
1. A struggling actor who almost gave up his acting hopes after four years of luckless trials and there you see, four film offers in a heap where you are the lead hero for three of them. Does this seem magical ?
It’s a special feeling for sure. I was signed up for Oohalu Gusagusalade much before Chandamama Kathalu happened. For the latter, I was advised by many against doing a role that would have my presence for just about 20 minutes. Honestly, I was equally apprehensive about leaving an impact in a film that had eight threads to it . But, even for the audiences, it wouldn’t have been any easier if they were fed with 120 minutes of my performance out of the blues as a first time-actor. I wasn’t afraid to take up that challenge. Chandamama Kathalu in that purview groomed me as an actor for a full-fledged outing like Oohalu Gusagusalade. I hope the audiences are ready to see more of me too.
2. Didn’t the audience response for your first film suggested otherwise ?
The responses were generally divided. While some of them felt that the length was an issue, some expressed their liking to the hidden undertones. I don’t consider it a failure. It served my purpose as I got much-needed acclaim and recognition as a performer. When we get to the commercial aspect, I only took it as a stepping stone, learning all the lessons to enhance my transformation as a lead actor.
3. Any bundle of nerves in carrying a film like Oohalu Gusagusalade on your own shoulders ?
Not much to be frank. Once a spectator enters a theatre, it’s the film and the medium that reigns. Regardless of how big or small a work is, they’ll openly reject it if the story doesn’t strike an appeal. I’ll prefer to hand over all the credit to my director Srinivas Avasarala in this case. Being in the industry for half a decade now, he knew when and where to guide me. As artists, we are a sensitive lot and if one were to criticize us openly, we tend to take it to our hearts. He never let such a situation arise by mildly chiding me in private when my performance fell flat or I had to improvise. The pressure as a result didn’t get to me.
4. Raashi and yourself are nearly in the same stages of your careers. So is Srinivas Avasarala as a director. Wasn’t this a potential risk for a film to shape up the way it has been conceived ?
We weren’t worried much about the result. I and Raashi just executed what was expected of us as actors. Our focus was only on following the director’s instructions. The director stayed true to his creative vision. The producer Sai Korrapati, as cliched as it may sound also did his job in ensuring us with adequate resources and the right scale that the script demanded. It’s now in the hands of audiences to judge our efforts.
5. Will your turn as a lead actor mean that you are not game for multi-starrers, say like Chandamama Kathalu in the future ?
Ah, It’s a tough one. I will continue to accept such roles provided I am convinced of the story. In both these films, I feel lucky enough to have got characters that are nowhere close to me in reality and I felt I did justice, at least, that’s what the directors opine too. That’s my biggest takeaway and if I sense the variation in scripts that come by my side, why not ? The amount of personal satisfaction that Oohalu Gusagusalade has given me during the 49-day-shoot is matchless and is something that I would cherish and carry with me for the times to come.
6. Your choices reflect the desire to travel the less-taken path rather than the conventional launchpads that we are used to see. What made you shed a minimum guarantee action avatar for a start ?
Let’s be practical here. I guess there are enough actors around us who can do that better. I am using this as an advantage in the sense that people will come to watch my film for a fulfilling experience and not for Shaurya as an actor. To make matters simple, I want to be an Aamir instead of a Shahrukh. Aamir is a force for his script choices and Shahrukh for his larger than life charisma. I better follow the earlier one. I play safe and stay happy at the end of the day. I don’t want to be mellowed down by the results. It’s a long innings and not the airy stardom I am aiming at.
7. So, as the stereotype goes, is acting in your blood ?
I continue the stereotype here. I was never meant to be an actor. After some inhibition in confessing my dream to be a director in front of my parents, I tried to surge ahead. However, that ambition of mine never quite took off. My well-wishers were however keen to push me into cinema knowing the madness I had for the medium. If not off-screen, it eventually worked on-screen after a five year arduous wait and I guess I shouldn’t be complaining now. Just when I was about to call it quits, Vaarahi’s ad for a lead actor came by. I didn’t expect to make the cut. The impromptu moment that I was called to the production office amidst the presence of SS Rajamouli, Keeravani and Srinivas Avasarala was totally surreal. My life, much to your belief wasn’t the same anymore.
8. What kept you motivated in spite of all the hiccups ?
I find myself very lucky. My parents were so supportive of me that they didn’t bother to ask me where was I heading towards in the last five years. I basically don’t have any godfather in the industry. Sometime ago, my father just told me to keep going and not lose hope. He promised me that he would have no issues even had I not succeeded in my attempt. He went on to assure that he would make things work if my career didn’t progress as planned. Nothing could have stopped me from there. I had all the mental ammunition that I needed from my beloved and failure didn’t or still doesn’t scare me. When they are so sure of my ability to make opportunities count and stand tall, why shouldn’t I ? I attribute my growth to this very support.
9. How was it matching up to the energies of a live-wire like Raashi Khanna as a co-star ?
She’s a fabulous actor. Period. I realised it more when I was dubbing for my portions and noticed her performance without a dubbing artiste. I was awe-struck to know that she spoke all the lines I just heard on her own. Mostly on the sets though, we as a team wanted to get the expressions and the lip-syncs right. Both of us were occupied enough to take care of our own performances that we didn’t try to overdo our job. We have enough chemistry that the story is expected to have and not a whisker lesser or more than that.
10. You are doing another film with Vaarahi called Dikkulu Chudaku Ramayya and Lakshmi Raave Maa Intiki with Avika Gor. How are they progressing ?
When I talk to you about each of the ventures I am a part of, there’s always a clear distinction I have intentionally tried to maintain. I am blessed to explore so early. On a personal level, am pumped about how Lakshmi Raave Maa Intiki has been shaping up. Avika Gor’s brilliance will be on display yet again with this and I have an equally worthy character to strike a balance. The other film has a first-time director Koti behind it with MM Keeravani as the music director. SS Rajamouli is also the executive producer of this venture. There’s magic surrounding me and I am doing my best to sustain it.
11. Any child-like aspirations that you would like to accomplish in the near future ?
A word of appreciation from Nagarjuna would definitely mean a lot to me. I have grown up watching Ninne Pelladutha and Ravoyi Chandamama. I don’t have big aspirations but just a note from him that I have given a credible performance in a so-and-so film is enough to warm me up. In addition, I am dying to be a part of a Karunakaran directorial. Look at the way he’s launched and showcased newcomers, say an Ullasamga Utsahamga. Which young actor wouldn’t want to be a part of his works ? There’s a dream to work with SS Rajamouli but I know have a long way to go. That can obviously wait, at least till am about 15-20 films old.
12. Let’s do the obvious now, why Oohalu Gusagusalaade ?
It’s a heartfelt, genuine film whose making has been a life-altering experience. Most of the people are proud to be associated with such a product that was made with great clarity and little or no hullabaloo on the sets. My favorite song from this melodic delight is ‘Yem Sandeham’. I can’t wait to strike this 20th June on my calendar anymore. I am prepared and confident to watch it with the crowds. All my hard work, sweat, hopes are invested into this.
Interview by Srivathsan N. First published in Cinegoer.net
