'Ante Sundaraniki' hits the screens on June 10. In this interview, Nani talks about the film, working with director Vivek Athreya and Nazirya on the entertainer.

He also talks about his upcoming movies and more.

Highlights

People ask me why I don't work with leading directors and why I choose debutants or 2- or 3-film old directors. I have a selfish reason. I want to be part of the journeys of future top directors. Vivek Athreya is one such filmmaker. It feels nicer to participate in their early achievements. Vivek is original. He doesn't copy time-tested elements. His voice is unique. Nobody can tell his stories like he does! Trusting your instinct is important. It's because someone trusted me earlier in my career that I have been able to create a body of work of my own.

The nature of comedy in 'AS' is different from 'Bhale Bhale Mogadivoy' and other entertainers that I have done before. The hilarity doesn't seem unoriginal or repetitive.

The quirkiness and peculiarities in 'AS' are not over-the-top. The tone of the comedy is not disrespectful. Director Vivek being a Brahmin has told relatable things that take place in a typical Brahmin household.

I have to grapple to emote negative emotions, but I can seamlessly emote innocence, especially if the script has been written ably. Sundar, the protagonist, doesn't smoke or drink. But that doesn't make him ideal. He is really bad (laughs)! Vivek conceived his character as a non-ideal one. But he comes across as an innocent guy while being cunning.

Even before 'AS' has been watched, people are saying our combo (Nani and Nazriya) is magical. She rejected big Telugu projects but chose this one. Every character in 'AS' is meaningful and has a purpose. There are no unnecessary, forced elements.

The inter-religious love affair element is an overt one. That is a sub-plot actually. The main plot has been kept suspenseful by us.

Vivek Sagar's songs don't become hits before the release of a film. His songs are purely driven by the mood and the story. They are not the kind of songs you would want to play in 'sangeet' functions.

The run-time of 'AS' is 176 minutes. What is long and what is short? If a film bores you even if it is 90 minutes long, it is a longish one. If a film doesn't bore you even if it is a 3-hour film, it is a short one. In that sense, 'AS' is a short one!

There are no religiously offending elements in 'AS'. It's about people, not traditions. The film celebrates our diversity.

Cinematographer Niketh Bommi and Director Vivek are like a married couple. They complement each other so well. They are always in sync and it always helps technicians when they complement each other. Since Vivek had written the script in a detailed manner, everything just fell in place.

This is a golden phase for not just southern phase but also Indian cinema. If a film is doing well regardless of the language, it means the phase is great!

I am not doing films with anybody (Mahesh Babu, Prashanth Neel or Vijay Sethupathi). These are fake rumours.

Mythri Movie Makers has become a leading production house in Telugu cinema. They are bringing out the maximum content. I have been in touch with the producers right from the beginning of their journey. 'Gang Leader' was our first outing together. 'AS' is a much bigger collaboration. They are very passionate producers.

'Dasara' has completed one-fourth of the shoot. I will get back to the project soon. It's an authentic raw film that is the first of its kind in Tollywood. Nani 30 is in workings. I don't want to announce something just because a special occasion has arisen.

It's false news that 'AS' is going to arrive on OTT in three weeks. The reports are totally fake.

If you look at the choice of my films, from the beginning, I have selected stories, directors, and technicians defying the prevailing wave. I will always be like that. I am doing films that I want to watch as an audience member.

'Meet Cute' is going to be a direct OTT release. 'HIT 2' will go a long way and it will hit the screens on July 29. Adivi Sesh has just scored a hit. I am planning a series of projects under my banner.