Yami Gautam: If you have health, you can pull off anything

It took 17 years for South superstar Nagarjuna Akkineni to pick a Bollywood project after his last outing, LOC Kargil (2003). And that’s because he wasn’t “chasing a dream” of a career in the Hindi film industry, and nothing has changed today.

“Well, I don’t know what role Bollywood played in my career. I’ve never looked at it that way,” says Nagarjuna, set to return to Bollywood with Brahmastra .

However, he adds that working in Hindi films did help him as well as his producers, in some way. “Now, people like me in Bollywood, and anywhere, in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, or Mumbai. My films are watched, and that means my producer gets a little more money to play with. So, it helps an actor’s career,” says the 61-year-old, adding, “But I’ve never craved acceptance in Bollywood.”

After establishing himself in the Telugu film industry, Nagarjuna made his Bollywood debut in 1990 with Shiva, and went on to do films such as Khuda Gawah (1992), Drohi (1992),

Criminal (1995) and Zakhm (1998).

Reflecting on his career so far, he says, “I’ve done some good films with good directors, and have a fantastic experience with all the Bollywood films since the beginning”.

In fact, he’s glad he was able to leave a lasting impression, which is remembered even today. “People have shown me so much warmth and grace. Even now, I get phone calls after people see the trailer of my films, asking, ‘Why don’t you release this film in Hindi also’,” he shares, recalling an incident related to his recent release, Wild Dog, where he plays a ruthless NIA officer. “They told me the film deals with a universal subject, why are we making it in Telugu only. I understand, and like all my films, the Hindi-dubbed Wild Dog will also release, but a little later, on a digital platform,” Nagarjuna assures. While the actor is looking forward to Brahmastra coming out soon, it is on hold as the country reels under the second wave of Covid-19. Nagarjuna confesses he was touched when, after so many years, producer Karan Johar and director Ayan Mukerji reached out to him for the film, with Mukerji telling him, ‘We thought of you only when the subject was written’. He gushes, “I was happy and was very interested when I saw what they were offering me.”

Without revealing anything about his role, he goes on to shower praise on his co-actors. “Though Amit ji (Amitabh Bachchan) is in the film, my main work was with Ranbir (Kapoor) and Alia (Bhatt), who’re very intense actors. Ayan is very passionate about his craft,” he says. Does that mean audiences would get to see more of him in Bollywood after Brahmastra?

“Well, if something nice comes up and if I fit the bill, I’d love to do the film. But at this point, I’m very comfortable with where I am,” declares the actor, who completes 35 years in showbiz in May.

Nagarjuna has had several Bollywood hits over the years, but is mostly content with being in the Telugu film industry

I’ve done some good films with good directors, and have a fantastic experience with all the Bollywood films since the start. NAGARJUNA,

PHOTO: FACEBOOK/IAMNAGARJUNA