In a candid tete-e-tete, Nara Rohit talks about his journey in showbiz, learning curve, weaknesses and forthcoming projects

Your posters focus seems to be on Bull Horns'. Any specific reason?

Yeah, the hero's character will be more like a raging bull and actually came from the title Asura'. In our Puranas, one who killed devil is tipped as God, one who destroyed evil was called good, but I do the same, I'm being called Rakshasa'. The caption is like good is bad' – I'm good but it's because people don't like what I do, they call him bad.

Any specific reason for change in looks and putting weight?

I met with an accident when I was shooting for Prathinidhi, as a result of that I have gained a lot of weight. Later, during the elections, I was under stress and could not work out and I did not focus on fitness. Soon after, I had to shoot for Rowdy Fellow and Asura in which you see putting on weight. But I felt I should have shed a few kilos and for my next film I have already shed 8 kilos. The shooting will begin in August and I will further come down in weight by another 6 kilos

What characters are you comfortable playing?

I'm trying to show variations – In Rowdy Fellow, my role has lot of arrogance and attitude while in Asura, my role is intense. But I want to do more entertainment-based films like Pandagala Vachadu, in which I'm trying to speak in Godavari accent. So I'm constantly on the lookout for new roles. I don't mind even doing Mythological roles but the toughest part for me is dance, and I have to overcome that.

If a good film doesn't do well at the box office, how do you see it?

For a good film like Prathinidhi, I blame it on the release timing, publicity and production issues, and that's the reason why I turned producer for this film. I got clarify on how much to invest. And yes, I was always far from publicity due to various reasons. So taking a good film to the audience is as important a choosing the right script. So we realized that the mistake is not with the audience but ours. As such, for Asura, we ensured that our release date (June 5) is on everybody's lip.

What kind of a film is Asura?

It's a new age film ingrained with proper commercial elements. In fact, the film has an item number in the film for the galleries.

Do you encourage favoring a select section of media?

I come from a political background, so for us, media is like our backbone. I'm always with the media which has always been our support and I'll go against media. We don't mind pumping more money for publicity because after making a film in crores, it looks ridiculous if you don't spend on publicity. I can't disturb the relations between my family and media. I don't it's fair to promote only through a select medium. If producers want to impose a control, ask them to put a check on the budgets. When producers can't help a small film get theaters for release, how can they impose a rule on publicity only through select channels? In fact, there are filmmakers who make film only for publicity.

You seem to turn the spotlight on dialogue oriented films!

After Rowdy Fellow, I did another film Pandaga Vachadu, and it was almost completed. I tried Godavari accent for the film, but the release was pushed due to some reasons. Meanwhile, I was done with Asura and don't want to waste any time delaying to release it. For Asura, we've even changed the voice diction; the base levels are a bit higher. So for action based films, the voice modulation is a bit low but it keeps changing with roles. Since two of my action films released back to back, perhaps you might get that feeling. But Pandaga Vachadu is an out and out entertainer and will release in August.

How do handle criticism?

I'll be my first critic. I'm always open to criticism and even I criticize if I don't get my money's worth. I also value their opinion. We are a political family and I'm used to reading several articles on my family since my childhood. If you can't take criticism, you don't have the right to take appreciation. Much before Okkadine released, I knew it's not going to work and that's why I did not promote my film and I don't want to mislead the audience. If I don't like the film I don't mind saying it's a flop. But for Asura, we had a plan from the beginning on how to keep the buzz alive.

As an actor, how's your journey been from your first film?

I'm new to camera at the time of Baanam (debut film), but now I'm in love with it. I've become more camera-friendly and started to enjoy work. I'm gaining confidence with every film you should be willing to learn every day else, you don't grow.

What are your future projects?

I'm done with Shankara and it is readying for release. Yea, it's being delayed by a long time, but it's a good film. Murugadoss is remaking the same film in Hindi Akira (from the original Tamil version). Then Pandagala Vacha will release in August and I'm also remaking another Tamil film Maan Karate' directed by Kumar Nagendra. I'm also producing another film under my home production, apart from working on Sagar Chandra's Appatlo Okadu Undevadu', and Pawan Sadineni's Savithri. I want to take a break from serious cinema and do entertaining films in a lighter vein.

2015 looks promising for you with several projects

Yeah, I want to have maximum number of releases in the next couple of years. But few of the films have been due for release. I also have a couple of scripts and probably by December I'm planning to finish most of the projects.

Highlights of Asura?

The script, screenplay writing and off-course the logo (laughs). If you look at the posters of English pop albums, the title will be in a larger front, so we want to recreate the same over here. The music of the film is another major asset and we tried a Shayari to explain the hero's mode in every situation in the purest form of Telugu literature with hard hitting strong words.

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