Eversince it was announced that Allu Arjun is going to play Gona Gannareddy role in 'Rudhramadevi', the hoopla surrounding the film has gone up a notch higher. Now the film is ready for a release and Bunny shares many interesting things about his character, what motivated him to play the role, the current scenario in Tollywood etc in an interview.

Excerpts..

Curious

Rudhramadevi is a film, which falls into a very new genre. It is a historic and biographic genre movie. It should be called a bio epic. I am curious to see how the audiences accept the film.

Good intention

I played Gona Gannareddy role going out of my way. I did the film with a good intention to encourage a film, which tells about our Telugu culture. I meet Gunasekhar regularly and I came to know that no one came forward to play the Gona Gannareddy role, though the shooting of the film was completed. I was little surprised then I said to Gunasekhar that if he can make changes to the character so as to suit me, I will play it. He felt happy and developed the character. He is doing the film very passionately and even producing it. So I accepted the role to encourage him.

Apt only to me

Actually, Gona Gannareddy role was written for another age group. I am a young actor. So changes are made for me. After hearing the dialogues, I was very excited. Many felt if that role is apt to me. But he changed it so much that it is apt only to me. Gunsekhar is a director, who made Ramayanam with child actors. So it is not so difficult for him to make this film with all young actors.

My interpretation

There are no reference pictures for Gona Gannareddy role, though it is mentioned about him in history. No paintings are available. Gona Gannareddy is a popular thief like Robin Hood. So we researched with the psychological feeling that he looks rough with torn black clothes. That was how the costumes were designed.

There is also a reason why I will be seen in a normal hair style, unlike others who will be seen with long hair. People with short hair used to be fined (Burra Sunkam) in those days. But Gona is a rebel, who went against the system. It is my interpretation that he used to have short hair. I will be seen speaking colloquial Telangana language in this movie..

Like NTR, ANR

Many asked me why I wanted to do this role, when I was happily playing hero characters. Heroes like NTR, ANR etc used to do good roles in other 'sfilms, even when they were big stars. NTR played a small role in 200th film. Though they were star heroes, they used to give value to good characters. Now there are actresses like Nitya Menon, who is always ready to do small roles, if she likes them. In Hollywood, there are heroes like Brad Pitt, who do it.

Many characters played by NTR, ANR, Krishna etc are memorable ones. My Gona Gannareddy role will also be memorable like Sri Krishna, Alluri Seetharama Raju, Thandra Paparayudu etc

I suggested my uncle's voice

A voice over was needed in the point of view of a character. When Gunasekhar is mulling whose would be good, I suggested to him that my uncle Chiranjeevi's would be perfect.He immediately agreed to give voice over when approached.

Women empowerment

Rudhramadevi is a film on women empowerment. Why shouldn't women rule ? is a universal point. What are the restrictions for a woman to rule in those days ? The film is based on that. So the film is not restricted to any particular region.

Anushka did a fantastic job. Rudhramadevi is a wonderful historical stereoscopic 3D movie. Everyone should enjoy watching it in 3D.