Exclusive! I was teary-eyed when Pannaga said he wants me in his home production: Meghana Raj Sarja

Yesterday, on the birthday of her late husband Chiranjeevi Sarja, Meghana Raj Sarja announced her comeback film. To be directed by newcomer Vishal, the as-yet-untitled project is being backed by Pannaga Bharana, who was one of Chiranjeevi’s closest pals. “Pannaga and Chiru (as Chiranjeevi was fondly known as) were friends for a very long time and were contemplating collaborating on a professional level as well, shortly before Chiru’s untimely passing in June last year. Among their many ideas, one was to start a production house together. The Sunday before Chiru passed away, he, Pannaga and Prajwal (Devaraj) had discussed this, with the idea of making niche content-rich cinema, which wouldn’t necessarily be low-budget. After we lost Chiru, Pannaga has been trying to get the banner afloat, to keep their dreams alive, and this film, which has just been announced is the starting point,” says Meghana.

When the script first came to her, though, Meghana did not know that she would be a part of it as an actress. “Pannaga asked me to listen to a script by a newcomer called Vishal. I thought he just wanted to run it by me and know what I thought of it. Vishal’s narration was extraordinary and I was blown away by the concept. I had no idea that Pannaga was thinking of casting me in the film. After the narration, I called Pannaga and told him that I thought the story was fantastic and would keep audiences glued to their seats. That is when Pannaga said that he wants me to be in it, which, initially, took me aback, because I had not considered a return to cinema just yet. I knew it would happen at some point, but hadn’t given it thought. I had been getting film offers for a while, but I was not interested, and they didn’t feel right as comeback projects. When Pannaga insisted, though, not only was I teary-eyed, but also felt a strange sense of satisfaction; I guess it was meant to be this way. We are looking at going on floors sometime by the end of November or early December, depending on the weather. We also need to zero in on a few locations, as well as casting for a few more characters,” Meghana elaborates.

But when asked about more details on the film, all that Meghana will tell us is that it is a crime thriller. “I have been strictly told not to speak about the story, but suffice to say that this is not a film in which you can zone out even for a minute. You need to be attentive from start to finish,” she says. This project, though, will be her first since welcoming Raayan. “My last release was in 2018, Iruvudellava Bittu, although I have two unreleased projects, Selfie Mummy Google Daddy with Srujan Lokesh and Buddhivanta 2 with Upendra. Unfortunately, there’s been no word on when these films will release,” she says.

Is she prepared to leave Raayan behind and return to the set? “Honestly, I don’t know how I will leave him at home and go back to work. I think that’s the most difficult part. Going to a set and acting, even after a very long time, is doable, because it comes naturally to me. I don’t have to put in extra effort. Staying apart from my baby will be the most challenging part of doing this film. I hope I don’t drive my mother mad, nagging her to keep me updated about his routines. Pannaga has assured me that they will work around Raayan’s schedule so that he is not affected by this change. That’s comforting,” she signs off.