Most of your films have been in the rom-com space, including Andhagaadu. Are you more comfortable working in this genre?
Honestly, I’m not comfortable with romance. I think it’s the way I look, I guess, and the fact that I started my career with a film like Uyyala Jampala, I keep getting offers in this genre. But my priority has always been about delivering entertaining films irrespective of the genre. I’ll continue doing films that appeal to the masses.
In Andhagaadu, you play a visually-challenged person. Is it an experiment of sorts within the commercial space?
When the story was pitched, I was quite impressed with my character. While it’s an entertaining film on the whole, it was challenging to pull off my character. I appear just for 40 minutes in the film, but I had a ball shooting for it. I don’t quite call it an experiment because there’s no need to prove anything to anyone. I never went searching for such a character, it came to me.
This is the third time you have teamed up with Hebah Patel. How have you grown as an on screen pair?
It’s always great to work with Hebah. She is one of my best friends and we share great compatibility. This reflects in our on screen chemistry which in turn helps a movie.
With Hebah, I don’t feel like I’m acting. Everything is so easy going between us that we instantly click as a pair. It has worked once again in Andhagaadu, and audiences will enjoy scenes between us.
How do you react to link up rumours with Hebah?
I just read and have a good laugh. I can’t have control over those who article such baseless stories. Both of us know we are good friends so it doesn’t quite matter what others write about us. I usually try and avoid reading such articles but if I come across I just have a good laugh.
You recently did a cameo in Tamil film Balloon. Any plans of venturing into other industries?
Language has never been a barrier for me. If a great script in Kannada comes along tomorrow, I will learn the language and work. But without a good script, if I choose to do a film in another language, it won’t get me anywhere. Even if I decide to work in another industry, I’d prefer doing a bilingual.