Venky talks about `Eenadu`, Kamal

Venkatesh is one actor in Tollywood who has no airs about his stardom. He has been trying to do different roles and has also been waiting for `multi-starrer` movies. His dreams came true when Kamal Haasan approached him for the ambitious Marmayogi. Although the project fell through, Venky and Kamal decided to act together in another film - Eenadu, a remake of the Hindi flick A Wednesday. As the film is gearing up for release on Sep 18th, Venky shares his experiences with Kamal and much more..

Lets begin with Eenadu. Will this film work in Tollywood given the fact that Telugu movies thrive on commercial potboilers?
Eenadu ushers in a new trend in Tollywood. It is the beginning of many things. I can`t predict its fate at the Box-office at this stage but I am sure people who have been waiting for good films will like it.

Non-stars did the original film, A Wednesday. Don`t you think the star image of you and Kamal would hamper the subject?
The original was a good film and it tasted success too but it could not reach to the C and B centres because it did not have stars. With Kamal and I on board, we may achieve the goal. That was the whole point in us coming together. I am sure the audience will react to it positively. It is an honest attempt and we are not creating false impressions about the movie.

Did you have any apprehensions before signing this film?
Yes, I had my own reservations and initially when Kamal suggested this film, I didn`t show much interest. One reason was I wanted to do both the versions - Telugu and Tamil. But Kamal insisted on taking in Mohan Lal for the Tamil version. And before that we (our production house) planned to remake it in Telugu in which I was to do both the roles – common man and Police commissioner. So I was reluctant to do Eenadu. But Kamal insisted on it and said to me: ``Venky, I saw most of your films. How long will you continue doing the same dance and song routine? It is high time you jump into the experimentation mould. You ought to accept this Venky. Don`t hesitate. We might inspire others to follow. Think about it and don`t say no.`` So I did eventually say `yes`.

You were first selected for Marmayogi!
Yeah, we have been planning to act together for a long time and when he called me for a challenging role in his ambitious project Marmayogi, I was charged and immediately said `yes`. The script is good and my role is also a most challenging one. When the project was shelved, I was disappointed.

What is the bond between Kamal and you? He approached you for Marmayogi and then for Eenadu. Is he looking for a replica of himself in you?
No. Don`t compare any actor with the great Kamal Haasan. God! Look at the range of films that he has done in the last 50 years. Has any actor, anywhere in the world attempted such roles? His never-ending zeal to do something different amazes me. When I saw Dasavatharam, I was awed by his calibre and realised the low quality of my work. He makes actors like me feel ashamed of the roles we play.

Any regrets for not working with him earlier?
Yes, I feel unfortunate not to have worked with him before. And I am really satisfied creatively after working with him in Eenadu although we didn`t act together in not more than one scene as we pitted against each other.

Which of Kamal`s movies inspired you the most?
There are plenty of them. But films that made a lasting impression on me are - Swathi Muthyam, Nayagan, Kshatriya Putrudu and the early K Balachander movies that he did.

How many days did you shoot for this movie?
The entire film was shot in just 30+ days and I worked for just 15 days. It was minutely planned and executed accordingly. The film itself has just 1 hour 45 minutes of runtime.

How was it working with Chakri Toleti, the first time director?
He is sincere and knows his job well. He is also very quick. Working with him using Red Camera Technology was a unique experience.

Did you slash remuneration to make it feasible commercially?
No, I haven`t taken any remuneration yet. I always take remuneration only after the release and depending on the success and business. It has been my way of dealing for the last 20 years.

Will you work with other heroes in Telugu?
Sure. In fact, I am ready to do even villain roles with the current young heroes if they provide a strong script. I am game for it. Recently, when I was talking with some of the directors here, they felt really happy that I am doing Eenadu. They said it would give them impetus to work on challenging scripts.

Why do you think Telugu films are not reaching beyond the next level?
Of late, we have been making good films but it just takes `one great film` to cross the bridge. I have immense confidence in today`s young talent. They are capable of making great films that can be liked by universal audiences. All they have to do is take a daring step. Today`s young heroes (Mahesh, NTR, et al) are supremely talented and also some of the young directors have got the talent to make it big at the national level. They just need to venture out.

Will you revive your Bollywood career?
I am planning to do similar multi-starrers in Bollywood. In fact, recently I was offered the role of a cop in a Hindi film. They are working on the script. Let us see how it materialises.

Why do you think Telugu heroes hesitate doing offbeat roles like the Tamil heroes?
If I was offered a `Sethu` kind of role, I could have done it. It is not that we don`t want to do it, it is just that we are not getting such scripts. I was to do a film with Bala (director of Shivaputrudu) but he said he`d come to me with a better script.

Is there any actor in India whose histrionics you feel are tough to copy?
Yes, it is Mohan Lal. No actor can do it like him. His range of acting and his style is far superior. He belongs to a different acting school. That is why I never remade any of his films because you can`t reach his level however hard you try and eventually you get bad results if you copy him. This is the reason why most of the remakes of Mohan Lal movies look pale to the original.

Tell us about your current film - Namo Venkatesha?
It is an entertaining film with a liberal dose of romance. It is essentially a comedy. I don`t say it is completely different from my other entertainers but the characterisation is unique. We have finished the first schedule recently in Iceland and Austria. From the 11th of this month we are beginning a new schedule and it lasts till the finish. We are aiming for a Sankranthi release.

Is there any devotional angle to the movie?
No. The title might mislead but there is no such devotional aspect to the story.

What are the other films that you are committed to?
There is Ganga to be directed by Amma Rajashekar. It will commence soon.

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