Akkineni Nagarjuna's 'Wild Dog' will hit the screens on April 2. In this interview, he talks about the film, what makes it unique, working with director Ahishor Solomon and more.

Catch the actor also talk about the long-delayed 'Bangarraju', the Hindi-language fantasy 'Brahmastra' and more.

Excerpts:

'Wild Dog' was made with the determination of making action scenes look real. It's a commercial film. At the same time, the situations are slice-of-life. We had to strike a balance in mounting action scenes.

This film deserves a lot of promotions. That's why we have been promoting it widely. This is a new-age commercial film, and I am the only familiar face in the film. The director, too, is relatively new. Although I am committed to shooting for Praveen Sattaru's movie, I have taken some time off to promote 'Wild Dog'.

I enjoy working with new directors, considering that I get a chance to present myself in a new way. I would be bored with the same old type of characters and treatment. I am a big star today only because of new directors.

The script of 'Wild Dog' was first narrated sometime in June or July 2019. I was getting ready to work on 'Bangarraju' around that time. 'Wild Dog' looked like a film that could be completed fast - in 60 or 70 days. Moreover, 'Bangarraju' is a festival film. Due to Covid-19, 'Wild Dog' got delayed. We couldn't shoot in Thailand and Sikkim due to restrictions. Before the lockdown itself, 50% of the movie was completed.

'Wild Dog' has me in an interesting role and I am confident that it will be a stand-out role in my career. Any man would want to be such a powerful, good character in real life.

ACP Vijay Varma (Nag's name in 'Wild Dog') is a good officer, a good team leader, and a very good husband. He loves the country and that's the reason why he got into the NIA. The story is set in a period when terrorists were out to destabilize the country. He doesn't arrest people because he believes in putting an end to them instantly. He can go to any extent for the sake of his friends. He is a straightforward, powerful character. I like to be someone like him in real life.

I didn't meet any real-life NIA sleuth but director Solomon did. He met an Army major who was part of a surgical strike. We worked with him to learn about how to handle a grenade, a gun, etc.

I am just 31 (laughs). I am fitness-conscious. It was not difficult to do a physically-exerting role like this. There were days on which I was physically strained, though. I didn't do workouts separately for this film.

We had roped in David Ismanole of Hollywood for stunts. Due to Covid-19, he couldn't turn up for schedules in 2020. We then roped in Sham Kaushal of Bollywood.

The story begins with a blast in Pune. The investigation is quite exciting. By the time the identity of the mastermind was found out, he had left the country. In Nepal, he became an Unani doctor. The NIA then takes the help of our RAW agents in Nepal to nab him. A covert operation was conducted in Nepal in order not to spoil bilateral relations. Vijay Varma is tasked with bringing the mastermind to the Indian courts. But will he do it or eliminate him is what you have to watch on the big screen.

We have plans to dub 'Wild Dog' in Hindi and release it. We are also happy about our film's streaming deal.

In 'Brahmastra' (Hindi), I am playing a powerful character. It's a trilogy. The first part has me for 30 minutes. It will go down as one of the best characters in my career.

I have acted in about 100 movies but never have I done a film in covid-like circumstances. During the full lockdown last year, I was confined to my home for several weeks for the first time in my life. Once I started shooting for 'Wild Dog' in Manali, it felt like freedom. I threw out the mask and shot for the film!

'Bangarraju' will be an entertainer. It might go on the floors after Praveen Sattaru's film this year. But if we can't bring it for the next Sankranthi, the shoot will get postponed and the film will release for the 2023 Sankranthi. Naga Chaitanya could be a part of the film. I am motivated to play different characters. I don't like doing the same kind of situations.

As a producer, I would be producing a movie with Vaisshnav Tej ('Uppena' hero). A film with Raj Tarun is already on the floors. I want to do an action film with Akhil. As everyone knows, his film with Surender Reddy is an action flick.