Sharwanand is optimistic about 'Radha', the May 12 release. In this interview, the Mesmerizing Star talks about what made him accept the movie, what kind of message the film drives home, and more.

It has been said that 'Radha' has a message to tell. Is it what drove you towards the film?

Cops are the ones who protect us round the year. They save us from dangers. Even when we are busy celebrating festivals, they are looking after law and order at congregations. It's this point that I liked the most. 'Radha' is a tribute to them. Generally, people don't have a high opinion about cops. We believe that they go away if we give them Rs. 100. But what kind of hardships they go through is not often appreciated. The cops work so hard. If soldiers protect us at borders, inside the borders, it's the cops who protect us.

When it is cop stories, audience tend to think it in terms of action episodes and punch lines. But 'Radha' is in a different mould.

What is your characterization like? How does it justify the title?

My character has a self-image of being a Krishna. His language too is like that. He has cute lines that draw from the Bhagawad Gita. He addresses his fellow cops in the station as Arjuna, Dwara Palakulu, etc.

As a child, he gets attracted to Gita, so much so, he feels his stomach is full whenever he reads it. When a constable saves him from falling down dangerously, he sees God in the cop. He starts believing that, when Krishna said that He will come down to save men every time they are in danger, the God meant that He will come in the form of a police man.

When he was done with narrating the story, I asked the director if his father is a cop. Depth-wise, it's like that.

Have you tried to imitate anyone?

The comedy that I am doing is different from what I have tried in my previous films like 'Run Raja Run' and 'Express Raja'. As an actor I don't believe in imitating any hero.

Are you a spiritual person? Have you read the Gita?

I have read a few slokas. In the film too, the slokas that have been invoked are easy to understand for the common audience.

After the big success of 'Shatamanam Bhavati', your responsibility as an actor must have gone up.

Yes, it has. After the film, family audiences too may be having expectations. For that movie to happen, 'Run Raja Run' and 'Express Raja' gave the boost. All I did was to be a part of a good film. The higher the number of audiences, the better. As an actor, I want to entertain as many people as I can. 'Radha' had gone to sets last June itself. Meanwhile, when 'Shatamanam Bhavati' happened and Dil Raju garu felt that it should be ready for release by Sankranthi, we asked Bapineedu (producer of 'Radha') for permission.

You are accepting one film after another in Telugu, but in Tamil, you are not seen around. Why so?

If I have to do Tamil, the script has to be extra-ordinary. If I get something of that sort, I will do.

In Telugu, I don't take up a film unless it's a bounded script that satisfies me. The reason why one can't do more than one or two films a year is that one waits for bounded scripts. It will always be good to rely on such scripts. It keeps the producer and everybody else happy.

Are you tensed before the release of 'Radha'?

That is there every time. No matter what we think, one is always tensed as to what the audience are going to say. Will they agree with what we have thought is correct, is the question.

Have you changed after the National Award-winning 'Shatamanam Bhavati'?

I am the same person always. Although I was positive about the film, I never thought it would achieve such range.