Sushanth started his career in the industry with Kalidasu, but couldn’t capitalise on the start. The grandson of veteran actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao, who has clocked a decade in the industry, is now looking for a change and is part of a rom-com Chi La Sow (Chiranjeevi Lakshmi Sowbhagyavathi) which marks the debut of actor Rahul Ravindran as the director.
Expressing his growing disinterest in formula films, Sushanth shares, “I’m tired of doing age-old commercial potboilers and wanted to work in films that suit my age. Unless I keep working on such films, I can’t decode my audience’s mindset. So, when Rahul Ravindran narrated Chi La Sow’s script, I readily jumped at the opportunity.”
Unlike all his previous films, this film is being bankrolled by a new production house – Siruni Cine Corporation. Asked why he didn’t make this film on his home production, Sushanth explains, “I wanted to take more risks and try to be independent. Hence, Rahul and I decided to collaborate with a new production house. Fortunately, one of my friends has helped us find a producer. After we wrapped up the film, Chay (Naga Chaitanya) saw it, liked the concept and decided to release it through Annapurna Studios.”
The actor asserts that the film’s story was drawn from real-life incidents. He will be seen as a 27-year-old, who is under constant pressure from all corners to get married before he turns 30. Admittedly, Sushanth has been longing to do such film and in a way, it’s like seeking out a fresh start. “The role brings in a lot of relatability to my persona. Perhaps, I have been waiting to see myself in such stories and play a boy-next-door for some time now. The narration is sans melodrama and we don’t want to manipulate anything. It’s going to be real which is why I didn’t wear any makeup and performed subtly.”
The best compliment he has got for his performance is that it was so real that it didn’t feel like a performance at all. “After watching the film, my uncle (Nagarjuna) spoke to my mother and was all praise of my choice and performance. Casual acting is difficult to pull off and it’s the best compliment I had got after I started working for Chi La Sow. Personally, I’m glad to be a part of this film. Whether you understand Telugu or not, this is kind of movie everyone family should watch,” signs off Sushanth, who is also committed to work in a comedy-thriller.
— Murali Krishna CH
muralikrishna.db@newindianexpress
@onlymurali