Victory Venkatesh's 'Narappa' will arrive on Amazon Prime on July 20. In this interview, the versatile actor talks about the experience of doing the film, how he felt reprising Dhanush from the Tamil original, how the coronavirus pandemic has changed his outlook in life and more.

Excerpts:

I am sure my fans are the most understanding type. I apologize to them for the OTT release of 'Narappa', which I enjoyed myself doing.

This is a very emotional film and its action scenes exhausted me a lot. The exhaustion is because I couldn't gather myself for the next shot after giving one shot. I did it with a lot of crazy emotion.

I have to thank Dhanush and Vetri Maaran (story writer and director of 'Asuran', the Tamil original) for the remake rights. It's a hard-hitting emotional drama. I have not come across a film like 'Asuran' before. I liked it when I watched it. I had a gut feeling that I should do it in Telugu.

When I did remakes like 'Chanti' and 'Sundarakanda' in my career, I felt I should do them immediately. When I go for remakes, I ensure that everyone from my producer to the audience is happy.

Narappa is the most challenging character in my career. The look, the emotional and the action sequences are all real. We did a long schedule in Madurai. I am happy to have attempted a very strong character after so many years. I had a positive feeling while doing the movie.

When Sreekanth Addala saw the Tamil original, he liked it. And I had worked with him previously. So, I wanted to work with him. 'Narappa' is an honest remake. The director and everyone worked towards making an honest remake. It's a challenge not just for him but also for everyone. Doing a serious film like this after 'F2' felt nice.

Nobody came up with the kind of remake movies I have done in my career. I have not stuck to only one kind of movie in my career. Even business-wise, they were convenient for my producers. I enjoyed reprising both Dhanush in 'Narappa' and Mohanlal in 'Drushyam 2'. The latter emotes a lot with his eyes.

At the end of the day, I and Dhanush are different actors. Dhanush is one of the most outstanding actors in the country. He enjoyed remaking 'Aaduvari Matalaku Arthale Verule' in Tamil. After a point, while watching an emotional film, you will stop comparing.

I am fortunate that, as an actor, I can get into any character really fast. After my work ends, I totally zone out of my character immediately. 'Narappa' was luckily done at a single stretch. 'Drushyam 2' was also done like that. 'F3' is a crazy comedy. Sometimes you are lucky to get a variety of genres.

I don't take things too seriously in life. Some projects come to you, some others go to others. As for the OTT release of 'Narappa', it was inevitable. I am philosophical in life. I don't ask questions about things. I do my duty as an actor.

Sometimes, a handful of scripts are ready for you. At other times, there are no good scripts. It's not in your hands. Nature takes that call. This time, Nature has taken a very horrible call (referring to the pandemic). We all have learned our lessons, which we might forget soon! We know our weaknesses.

It's unfortunate that we all have to go through this style of working due to the covid. There is a silent fear about not wearing masks. On set, we are worried if an actor speaks loudly, droplets will fall on others and spread covid. (Laughs)

I and Tharun Bhascker are not working on any sports drama. It's something else. I would like to work with so many talented people but nothing is in my hands.

Covid has taught me that we can't take anything for granted. To gain inner strength is very important. Things are not in our control. Be silent, meditate a lot, wish well for everybody. Everybody wishing well for the universe will have positive consequences. Spend 10 minutes every morning and show your gratitude, spread positivity and cut down on negativity.

There was a time when my sentimental scenes were mocked at. At the time of doing 'Prema', I told my director to let me cry. In 'Narappa', my performance is going to move the audience.

I am not bothering about whether I will do 100 movies. During the pandemic, our biggest concern is whether we will survive the pandemic.