Naga Shaurya: I took a call to promote Rangabali only after watching the film, I’ve learnt from my mistakes | Exclusive

Naga Shaurya, last seen in Phalana Abbayi Phalana Ammayi, has completed a decade in films. He has learnt from his mistakes, is wiser, more conscious of his script choices and doesn’t want to limit himself. Shaurya has even developed his own little strategy to test the mettle of his directors. Pawan Basamsetti, the brain behind his next release Rangabali, passed that test with flying colours, ensuring the right ambience to extract the best out of his team.

In a conversation with OTTplay.com, Naga Shaurya shares the reason behind his enthusiasm for Rangabali.

What explains your confidence for Rangabali?

When something truly drives you forward, it’s not easy to explain that in words. It’s just a positive energy that gives you an extra push when you start your day. I told the team that I would begin promoting only when I watch the entire film, I took the call myself. There were instances were audiences weren’t happy with my films in the past. I feel responsible for audiences and need to justify them why they need to watch it. When I watched Rangabali, I was assured.

Why isn’t it possible to replicate this process for every film?

In many cases, I didn’t get to watch the film till the last minute - from CG works to music to edits, it’s hard to point a finger at anyone. A film is a combined effort of over 500-1000 people, whom can you shift the blame to? There will be compromises; everything can’t happen at our will. It has luckily worked in my favour for Rangabali, I can’t promise the same for my next film. I am very aware of the mistakes in my previous films. I am happy with Rangabali because Pawan has executed it exactly the way he has promised to - nothing more, nothing less.

Evaluating his directors:

When you listen to scripts, you can initially only judge the story, you never how it’ll shape up. Over time, I’ve developed a strategy to evaluate my directors - their strengths and if they’re being entrusted with a responsibility beyond their range. When a director explains a scene to me, I ask them how they plan to execute it.

What makes Pawan Basamsetti a good director?

I believe a good director is someone who creates a peaceful ambience for his actors. He made us feel at ease during the shoot. I’d told Pawan that I would help him out if there was any problem even if it’s 3-4 am in the night. I didn’t want him to get tensed and transfer the negative energy onto the project. This is a good script and I didn’t want it to go wrong. Rangabali turned out well because of my experience and the director’s vision. Rangabali is a story of how a boy feels at home in his native town, explores connections with our roots.

You’ve consistently worked with debutants throughout your career. How do you judge their potential and what have you learnt from instances when your gut instinct didn’t work?

I have worked with 18 new directors in my career; just because some of them didn’t work doesn’t mean my decisions were wrong. Timing is quite crucial to how your career shapes up; it’s something I’ve believed right in the beginning. You change and evolve. On your way to office, if you encounter a busy road today, you’ll choose a better route tomorrow. When something doesn’t work with one director, you try something different with another and move on. It’s a continuous process, you can’t claim to have learnt everything in a day.

On pushing himself too hard for Rangabali physically:

I’ve chosen this profession to entertain people. We live in a competitive industry that’s producing great scripts, actors are killing it with their performances and the entire country has set its eyes on South Indian cinema. When you push yourself hard, it’s natural to injure your leg, shoulder or body; it’s a part and parcel of the process and one can’t afford to crib about it. Only then will you be successful, one can’t deliver dialogues, be complacent and afford to relax.

On his Rangabali co-star Yukti, Rangabali’s music and future projects:

Yukti Thareja is a very good person at heart, dances like a dream, looks beautiful and she has all the attributes that a top heroine in the industry must possess. Ch Pawan’s songs and background score are a major highlight in the film. I am working on my next film, a schedule is completed already. I’ll begin the second schedule after Rangabali’s release.

On coming out of his comfort zone as an actor:

As an actor, I’ve been trying to do a bit of everything in my films and I really don’t like it when people typecast me and tell how Naga Shaurya is only suitable to do a certain set of roles. How does one know what the other is capable of? Only when people break barriers and defy stereotypes, we get films like Okkadu, Pokiri, Baahubali and RRR. Did anyone imagine that a director could bring Jr NTR and Ram Charan together?

On not experiencing success as a producer:

Sometimes, one loss can wipe away all the profits you earn out of 9 successful films; that’s how production houses work. It is madness and I don’t mind if you call us insane, we don’t know anything beyond films. We are not here to make money and are driven by mad passion.

Has physical fitness changed you as an actor?

I wake up at 4.30 am in the morning - I don’t eat as per my wish, I am hungry and hardly feel active. Honestly, it’s quite hard to focus on acting. We’ve come here knowing this and I can’t afford to complain. It’s a struggle every actor has to face. Being fit doesn’t change anything much, you are zapped and lose all the energy by the end of any shoot day.

On keeping his better half away from limelight:

She is busier than me and has her hands full with a lot of tasks. Both of us don’t interfere in each other’s professional lives - I think that’s the most peaceful way to go about our work. I always wanted to keep my personal life to myself since the beginning. When you draw a line, people will always respect that.

His reaction to Phalana Abbayi Phalana Ammayi’s failure:

Audience’s perception towards cinema has changed completely post COVID-19. You need to compel viewers to watch it on the big screen and make movies with a larger-than-life appeal. When you restrict a film to a few characters, romance and intimate conversations, audiences will naturally prefer to watch it on OTT. We did a great attempt and I’m still very proud of Phalana Abbayi Phalana Ammayi.