Priyadarshi interview: After serious avatar in Court, my character in Sarangapani Jathakam will leave you in splits

Priyadarshi is high on the success of his last film, Court – State vs. A Nobody. Within a short gap, he's back with Sarangapani Jathakam, which hits the screens on April 25, 2025. He speaks to us about playing a crazy role, his belief in astrology, future projects, working with the likes of Indraganti, and playing lead roles. Here is the transcript.

Priyadarshi interview on Sarangapani Jathakam

Did you ever imagine that Court–State vs. A Nobody would be such a big hit?

Frankly, I did not imagine the film would be such a big hit. The team knew we were making a serious film with a message, but the box office collections shocked us big time. Making ₹50 crore in India and $2 million in the US is unheard of for a film with serious drama and zero entertainment. Seeing such collections gives us more courage to make films with strong content.

Were you surprised Indraganti chose you as the lead for Sarangapani Jathakam?

Yes, I was surprised when I got a call from the Gentleman director, especially after seeing me in serious roles in the last few years. I started my career by doing comedy films, but this style of comedy is completely different, and I asked him what made him choose me in the first place. He said that the Sarangapani character, who believes in astrology big time, suited me well, and hence he roped me in despite the market dynamics.

About your role in Sarangapani Jathakam?

I play a young man who is completely dependent on horoscopes and astrology. Every move of his is related to astrology. What happens when such a man leads a crazy life in today's Gen Z times, and what problems he faces, is the basic story of the film.

Did you ever get your horoscope checked before entering films?

When I was a struggling actor and dying to get into the industry, my mother got my horoscope checked, and it said I would never become an actor—and here I am, close to doing 100 films. I do believe in horoscopes, but not to the extent that is shown in the film. The character of Sarangapani is crazy about horoscopes, and this itself creates crazy humour in the film.

Working with the likes of Indraganti Mohana Krishna?

It is a dream-come-true moment to work with a talented director like him. He has made the careers of stars like Nani and several others. His characters are unique, and the way he extracts performances from each of them is quite different. Playing Sarangapani was a challenge as the character is quite different from who I am in real life. I just followed his instructions and did what was asked.

You started as a comedian and are now doing full-fledged hero roles. How does it feel?

Whenever I was offered a hero role, I only accepted those films because they were character-driven. Be it Balagam, Loser, or Court, the film is character-based. Today's audience has changed and comes to theatres only if they like the content. The lead actor is not an issue for them. So, I choose characters that are rooted and have a strong connection to society.

Do you think films like Sarangapani Jathakam will click in today's times?

Why not? There are crores of people who are mad about astrology and use it even in their daily lives. The comedy and the backdrop are new, and so is the fun generated. Content is king, and the humor is not below the belt or over the top in our film. In Court, you saw me in a serious avatar, and in Sarangapani, my character will leave you in splits.

Future projects

I am shooting for a film titled Premante, which is almost done with its shoot. A debut director is helming the film, and it has a very crazy backdrop. Then, I have signed a film with the prestigious Geetha Arts banner, owned by Allu Arjun of Ala Vaikunthapurramloo and Rudramadevi fame.

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