characters

What kind of characters you want to play in your career?
That we can’t decide. God only knows, we should do what comes to us, but we should not keep a rule that we should live in the way how we like. Once I used to films with mass image continuously and met with injuries. At that time, I said that I would do a film like ‘Suhdarakanda’, but many suggested not to come out of my image. But I stood by my word and did that film. After that I changed the entire style of my films. After that I did many good movies and played good characters. Films like ‘Pavitra Bandham, Pelli Chesundam Raa…, Nuvvu Naaku Nachav, Preminchukundam Raaa.. Premante Ideraa… Aadavari Maatalaku Ardhale Verule, Raja’ earned me a very good name and made me a family hero.
What all films you listed above were done by keeping your stardom aside? Isn’t it?
This is what I don’t like at all. It is not the stardom which is important. We should do different characters and prove ourselves as an artiste. It is the God who is there to decide what should be done and what should not. I am now ready to work in telefilms as well. I am going to play a role in a telefilm called ‘Vivekananda’, but my brother Suresh is not accepting to sign the dotted line. I don’t want any stardom at all.
There is a sentiment in the Telugu film industry. If you cry in a film that movie would be a definite hit. Did you cry in this film too by any chance?
Yes. There is a small flashback behind this sentiment. When I attended a function in Tirupati, some of the fans commented that the heroes in the film cry without facing the camera and we really don’t know whether they are really crying or laughing. This had prompted me to face the camera by crying in ‘Prema’. I became very popular with my crying scene in ‘Dharmachakram’. Even my children used to say, ‘Dad, you are crying well on the screen.’
Tell us about Chintakayala Ravi in a simple wording…
It is a romantic love story with entertainment with a small touch of mother sentiment.

Chintakayala Ravi’

Tell us about the music in ‘Chintakayala Ravi’
Music would remain a big asset for the movie. When the story is light, music should remain a highlight and this would pave the way for making the movie a big hit. Take ‘Raja’. If you delete music and watch the movie, you will be in an embarrassing situation. When we listened to the story, we thought of doing music by some freshers. After listening to the songs in ‘Om Shanti Om’, we decided to introduce Vishal-Shekhar to the Telugu industry and they only can give some freshness in songs. Moreover, the Andhra audiences also enjoyed ‘Om Shanti Om’ songs very much. They too had an eye towards the south music and were big fans of Telugu music like ‘Pokiri, Aparichitudu and Desamuduru’. They gave lilting tunes and the album would remain one of the best audio in my career.
Like your earlier films, in this film also there would be satires on the hero?
Satires are not much and almost nil in this movie. But most part of the entertainment was concentrated on my role. The characterisation of Ali and Sunil has also come out well. The film runs with good entertainment and at the same time there is mother sentiment that runs as an undercurrent.
We believe ‘Chintakayala Ravi’ is the title suggested by you. Is it true?
Yes. While telling the story, they brought some other title. While narrating the storyline, I heard the sound Chintakayala Ravi and it appeared funny to listen and I suggested and got it confirmed as the title. Earlier, some of the unit members feared that the title is sounding odd. But I stood by my word and ensured it as the title. When it went to the audiences, there is a very good response to the title. Especially, such title suits very apt for my films.
There is a talk that your films will never face budget problems?
Yes, it is almost true, because I always suggest to my producers to do a film within my limits. I also get the schedule planned in such a way. Basically, I am also the son and brother of a producer. I know the pros and cons about the film production. However, our expectations would go wrong at times. My film ‘Gharshana’ is the best example for that. None of my films never faced any problems regarding budget.
How far you involve in film-making?
Yes. I too involve in film-making to certain extent. Especially regarding story, I will involve very much. At times I also involve in music sittings to certain extent. But, I don’t involve much in other issues.
If someone brings to you a story saying such subject would be apt for Venkatesh. Will you disappoint them with your interference?
That is wrong. If the story is really good, I will never suggest any changes. Even if I suggest changes, if the other party was able to convince me that it would be like that only, I will definitely accept to stick to their subject. I started listening stories and music right from the days I am studying Class VII. So, I have sound knowledge about them.
What kind of characters you want to play in your career?

What about director Yogesh?

You termed life is a drama. Can you reveal its meaning?
Yes. Really it is a drama. It starts with the sun rise… i.e., in the morning and the drama ends for that day by night. In the morning, when I get up from my bed, I get a call that today this would be the shot. From then onwards I start my work, which include shouts, anger, uneasiness, happy moments, cracking of jokes what not. We don’t know when we get anger and when we feel happy. One more thing. We propose to do something. It may happen or may not happen. But what should have to be done would be done and what should not be would not happen. If we think something that it should happen, it is totally wrong. Who are you to think? You should complete the work for which you came to this world. We will quit this life even without our knowledge. So, don’t you think that it is a big drama?
Tell us about the heroines in this movie?
For me both the heroines are in new combination. Both their characters in the film are also very good. One of them would be in India and another in the US. Both the characters run along with my role. Both of them gave a nice performance all through the movie.
What about director Yogesh?
In fact, I was supposed to do a film with director Yogi some four years ago. But we could not do that project due to some unavoidable reasons. However, he continued to remain in touch with me. Our combination, somehow set for this movie.
Tell us about Bujji and your combination with him?
If I have to tell about Bujji, it would be a very big story. He came up in his life from a very low stage and reached the present stage with sheer hard work. He made a film with me called ‘Lakshmi’ and it was blockbuster. Later, he made another movie in association with Suresh Productions. He would continue to do so further. If he finds talent anywhere, he immediately bring it to light. He won’t remain idle even a single day. He keeps on bringing a new story everyday. He worked very hard for this film production. I wish that this movie would also give him a big hit on the lines of our earlier combination ‘Lakshmi’.

am completely

You are saying ‘if the film to be a hit’. Does it mean that you are doubtful about it?
I am not exactly doubtful and at the same time I am completely not very confident. We are just nominal. Hits and flops are not in our hands. What we should do is that we should do our duty and leave the result to the fate and destiny. Life itself is advocating the same principle because the entire universe is a big drama. Where there is a drama, there will be failures as well as successes. Just because we got a hit, we just can’t boast that we did something great or anything like that. We got birth and is running it as it comes. We have to play our role in this stage called universe and nothing is in our hands.
It appears you are talking like a great philosopher?
What appears? It is what the entire media is gossiping about me. Didn’t you read? What all we can say is what we know. What we don’t know, we should try to learn. When we thought of thinking to learn something, they name it as madness.
Then why don’t you react to such comments in the media?
You see. It is his problem. When that reporter is feeling happy to comment on me, why should I disturb his happiness. He could write about it once, twice and after that he himself would remain silent. Nothing would happen after that. Earlier, I thought that I am alone like this, but now I was able to see such comments on several artistes.

Interview - Venkatesh

Victory Venkatesh expressed his opinions boldly about his forthcoming film ‘Chintakayala Ravi’ directed by Yogesh and produced by Nallamalupu Srinivas (Bujji), with Anushka and Mamata Mohandas in the female lead. Here are the excerpts of an interview with Venkatesh to Non Stop Cinema…
How your flick Chintakayala Ravi off to a start?
After ‘Tulasi’, which is an action packed subject, I thought of doing an entertainer with a touch of emotions. Exactly at that time, my brother Suresh and Bujji brought this story to me and I liked it very much and gave my nod.
In what aspect you okayed this movie?
You see, when I am thinking of doing a different subject which has some freshness in it and this story which was narrated to me has all those qualities. In order to maintain the freshness, we planned the shooting of most part of the film in the US. Though the storyline is quite simple, it has a very good narration.
You are saying that the storyline is simple, that means does it have no gripping story?
Yeah.. You are right to some extent. It is not a very big story, with lengthy and heavy dialogues and action scenes. It is very simple and we tried it to narrate in a simple way. If the film to be a hit, it would definitely create a trend of its own.

Amrita wants to be a bold babe

It seems Amrita Rao is desperate to change her onscreen image. Apparently after films like Vivaah and Welcome To Sajjanpur , Amrita’s getting more roles of that of a simple small town girl. Interestingly she was offered a role of a simpleton in Jagmohan Mundra’s forthcoming film Roommates . However Amrita preferred to excuse herself from the project. “Yeah I approached Amrita for the role of a small town girl but she was a little apprehensive as it has a negative shade too. She was not sure that she wants to do it at this point in her career.” says the director Jagmohan Mundra. According to an industry insider after the success of Welcome to Sajjanpur Amrita is getting a lot of similar offers to play the same character, but Amrita who doesn’t want to get typecast in one type of role has refused to be part of Mundra’s urban thriller Roommates. However Amrita wasn’t available for any comments. It can be recalled that earlier she was offered Jagmohan Mundra’s Naughty@ 40 , opposite Govinda. Interestingly Amria has attempted to be a glam doll in her previous film. She has done a glamorous role in My Name Anthony Gonsalves which failed to impress her audience. Hope Amrita learns from her past experiences!

'I can look glamorous'

Although you have seen her on the small screen and on the silver screen, what strikes one most about Shama Sikander is the freshness on her face. She was the girl-next -door in the show Yeh Meri Life Hai , a seductress in the film Chand Bujh Gaya and a confused con-girl in Dhoom Dhadaka . This goes to show how versatile this pretty actor is. Shama is one of the few actresses who have made a transition from films to television and she’s back to TV after doing a few films. Clearing the confusion, she says, “My life has been rather adventurous. I started my career with films, then I did modelling, went on to do TV, then theatre and now back to television. But it’s been fun. I’m like that. I do things at the spur of the moment.” One of Shama’s passions is dance and that’s what made her come back to TV with a dance reality show. “It was a dance show and that too with cricketers. That made it too much of an irresistible offer to say no to,” she says. And it’s not only TV, Shama also sizzled on screen in Ram Gopal Varma’s Contract in an item number. “I am very friendly with choreographer Pony Verma. And she referred my name to Ram Gopal Varma who just took one look at me and chose me to do that song,” says Shama with a smile. Like every sensible actor, Shama too is well aware of the demands of the industry of wearing sexy outfits and doing intimate scenes. “I have always said that I’ll do only what I am comfortable doing and wear what I feel comfortable in. There’s a very thin line between looking vulgar and sensuous. I’d like to look sensuous and not vulgar." Shama has danced wearing a red sari in the rain in Chand Bujh Gaya with co-actor Faisal Khan. Mention it and she lets out a groan, “I don’t know why people have made such a big hulla about that song. It’s like any other song with me wearing a sari and getting wet in the rain. Every actor has been doing it. Maybe people thought that I could only be like Pooja of my serial, but in a way it’s good. They have seen that I can look sensuous too. People couldn’t believe that I could look so glamourous also. But I can!” The fact that her serial Yeh Meri Life Hai made her so famous that Shama says nothing really excited her enough to come back to serials. “Nothing ever came up to that level and I’ve become very choosy about my roles after that show,” Shama says. Shama is currently working in two films with director Kamlesh Kunti and one is titled Coffee at Mocha, which is a love story. Apart from acting, Shama is passionate about working out and is an expert at kick boxing. “I haven’t got a chance to practice my kick boxing in real life. But I’d love to portray a character like Lara Croft on screen,” says she. Shama also loves to play the violin as she feels it’s very sexy for a girl to be able to play the violin. And that’s not all, she is also proficient in six languages and has done a Telugu film and a Tamil film with actor Prakash Raj.