While the audience is familiar with his dance moves, action sequences and punch dialogues Tollywood’s Young Tiger NTR Jr keeps a relatively low profile off-screen. Despite being one of the leading stars in contemporary Telugu cinema, the actor’s off-screen persona remains an unknown quantity.
As he settled down for an interview ahead of his new release Nannaku Prematho (his first interview in atleast four years), the actor recognises that his non-availability has been fodder for rumours on him.
“I think I’m the most rumoured actor in the Telugu film industry. I don’t think anybody else is subject to so many baseless rumours about their films or personal life,” he says.
Like most celebrities, NTR’s private life has been under tremendous scrutiny on Twitter, where hundreds comment on the actor’s life – and in most cases, make unsavoury remarks.
“Obviously at first, I was upset to read all that (comments by Twitter trolls), but then I realised that it’s a waste of time to pay attention or try to clarify to what is being written. You cannot clarify each and every thing that is written about you on social media, cause if you start doing that, you won’t have time for things more relevant,” he says, forthrightly.
The thing that strikes you the most about NTR Jr, is his brazen honesty. Smart, suave and highly opinionated – the actor gets talking about his new film Nannaku Prematho, the emotional connect he had with it, clashes with other big films and being a father himself.
On Nannaku Prematho
NTR Jr was supposed to do a film with director Sukumar. The filmmaker had narrated the script, the actor liked and they were all set to begin their project. However, that story has been put on hold for Nannaku Prematho, which NTR says, happened almost coincidentally.
“Sukumar had been working on this story for several years now. Then he narrated it to me when his father was unwell and was admitted to NIMS hospital. At that time, he called me and said, ‘let’s put that script on hold for sometime, I have another script for you’. It was around the time that his father had passed away and when he narrated this story to me, I broke down. It was a dying wish of father,” says an emotional NTR.
“I have a father too and I’m a father myself, so I could connect to it on a highly emotional level. I had a lot of admiration for Sukumar for deciding to dedicate this film to his father,” says the actor, who was previously seen in 2014 hit film Temper.
An actor who is synonymous with masala entertainers, NTR’s Nannaku Prematho deviates from the norm of commercial cinema.
“Even though it falls under commercial cinema category, it’s an emotional entertainer about a particular incident. The film is about the father-son relationship and the emotional quotient is so high that I wept in the film and in real life too,” the actor reveals.
On DSP
An already emotional film was struck by tragedy when composer Devi Sri Prasad’s (DSP) father passed away last month. The whole cast and crew were shaken by the incident, but it was business as usual for the composer, who showed admirable dedication in the face of personal tragedy, in order to complete the film.
“I was shooting in Spain when we heard the news. I immediately messaged him my condolences and I was upset that I couldn’t be there with him. There weren’t any talks of postponing the film but there was a question mark over the release dates. However, within three days, DSP started working again and produced brilliant music. It shows his commitment to his work and is something that we will never forget,” expresses a visibly shaken NTR.
On Sankranthi clash
NTR will not be the only big actor on show during the festive Sankranthi period, as he clashes with other stars, including his own uncle Nandamuri Balakrishna, who’s film Dictator releases on January 14, Akkineni Nagarjuna’s Soggade Chinni Nayana and Express Raja, starring Sharwanand.
“Why not?,” quips the actor, when asked about the release dates.
“Currently the movie business is changing and it is just about breaking even. There is no reason why multiple films releasing at the same time cannot do well,” he says, with assured practicality.
His rivalry with uncle Balakrishna has been a heavily discussed topic and is being touted as the ‘Clash of the Nandamuris’. Downplaying it, NTR says, “There is no clash. I want Babai’s (Balakrishna) film to do well, I want Soggade Chinni Nayana to do well and I want Express Raja to do well. I have no issues with anybody and I think playing up such ‘clashes’ are unnecessary,” he frowns.
On Telugu film industry
With NTR being guilty of essaying larger-than-life roles in stereotypical entertainers, the actor says the industry is evolving and is bringing more creativity to the fore and that he’s willing to expand his horizon as an artiste.
“At the end of the day, films are a business. I select films that suit my sensibilities as an actor. I believe in the story and we learn from our mistakes so that we can make better films,” he says.
Even though the actor is comfortable in Telugu cinema, he says Tollywood must take a leaf out of international films and expand itself.
“Globally, the way films are being made are changing. Actors are willing to step out of their comfort zone for the sake of a powerful script. Take for example, Pursuit of Happiness – even though Will Smith was known as an action star, he had agreed to do an emotional drama, and the film worked wonders,” he explains.
NTR, who had done films like Student No.1, Simhadri and Yamadonga with director SS Rajamouli, is delighted with the acclaim the director is receiving for his recent blockbuster Baahubali: The Beginning. When asked when he would work with the director again, he says,” I don’t want Rajamouli to stay here and get stuck with me. He should go forward take Indian cinema to the next level. At the start of the millenium, Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon had brought recognition for Asian cinema on the international stage. I think Rajamouli is capable of making a film of such magnitude.”
On Fatherhood
Considering Nannaku Prematho is all about the father-son relationship, NTR couldn’t contain his excitement while speaking about his own son Abhay. “I think fatherhood changed me a lot, for the better. Earlier I would be very hyper but after my son was born, I’ve calmed down a lot and become more focused,” he shares.
So what plans does he have after this film releases?, “My plan is to be a father once again and spend time with my son,” he signs off.
Nannaku Prematho, which also features Rakul Preet and Jagapathi Babu, releases today.