Rana Daggubati awaits the release of 'Aranya' on March 26. In this interview, he talks about the forest-based adventure flick, teaming up with Kollywood filmmaker Prabhu Solomon and how tough it was to can for the film.

The talented actor also makes a mention of what he likes about Pawan Kalyan, who is his co-star in the Telugu remake of 'Ayyappanum Koshiyum', directed by Saagar K Chandra.

Excerpts:

Prabhu Solomon's 'Kumki' had an element of elephants. After that movie, he researched a lot about elephants and wrote a story on man-animal conflicts. He learned that, in Assam's Kaziranga, 100 elephants were orphaned when a wall was built in their habitat.

When Prabhu narrated the story, it felt like a real story. Our only experience with animals is distant. But when you stand beside elephants, you feel the ground shaking when they walk.

I have played a character whose life is interspersed with animals in the jungle. I and my director walked into the jungles to understand the relationship between various elements and characters in the forest. The director made the characters talk incisively based on this analysis.

I used to participate in various activities pertaining to elephants and caretakers. I mingled with them. Unless you are really trained to be with elephants, it wouldn't be possible to do a film like 'Aranya'. The very story is about elephants. It can't be done with CG and all.

Although you will see a lot of animals in the film, the story is about elephants. Urbanization has resulted in the fragmentation of elephant habitats in several parts of the country.

The film infuses a lot of real-life elephants, including a long-drawn court case in Assam. There is something about the Forest Man of India but the film is not based on his story entirely.

The director wanted me to look organic. He mentioned Moses of the Ten Commandments because he wanted me to look spiritual. I didn't have scenes with humans for the first 30 days of the shoot. Since elephants are animals, their reactions are always genuine. Unlike the reactions of us humans.

When I did the look test for 'Aranya', Prabhu didn't say anything. He asked me to slim down. After the shoot began, he developed a lot of details as to how I should walk, run, etc. Everything that he does has a reason in the story.

It was not an easy thing to navigate several landscapes and forests for shooting the film. For example, a scene was shot in a Kerala jungle and at Mahabaleswar. The scene begins in one place and ends somewhere. Capturing the sounds was another big thing. Resul Pookutty's sound design is going to feel very special when you watch the movie in the theatre.

The subject of 'Aranya' motivated me to take up the challenge. When Rajamouli narrated the Mahishmathi story, I was tempted to do everything for it. It's all about the director's conviction.

'Virata Parvam' is a human drama, which could be shot pretty fast. It didn't need us to travel much. 'Baahubali' was thought to be over in 2 years. It took 6 years for the two parts to be wrapped up.

'Aranya' highlights the interaction between anti-establishment forces such as Naxalites and some elements seeking to commercialize the forest. The undercurrent of this clash is there in the film.

We never expected to be cooped up at home but we had to, last year. We all have been through it. Post-Covid, a change has come about in everyone. Our expectations from movies have gone up, thanks to OTT. A lot of us have binge-watched OTT stuff. Cinema needs to be theatrical. If you are doing a conversational film, just choose OTT.

India has become a diversified market now. People want me to speed up in Hyderabad. In Mumbai, they are still slow in Covid times. Our love for cinema is showing up here in Tollywood. There was a time when Mumbai was not aware of Telugu cinema 10 years ago. They wouldn't know the difference between Telugu and Tamil.

I feel very lucky to be working with Pawan Kalyan garu after working with the likes of Amitabh garu in Hindi. The remake of 'Ayyappanum Koshiyum' is a cool film. For Pawan garu, it is a different film. I learn something or the other form stars. Pawan garu is an original man. He is a very encouraging actor. I am excited about the film.

My character's pen name in 'Virata Parvam' is Aranya. The film has got a beautiful love story (involving Rana and Sai Pallavi).