Sathyadev on ‘Bluff Master’, future projects & more

Sathyadev awaits the release of ‘Bluff Master’ on December 28.  In this interview, the young actor talks about the film, working with director Gopi Ganesh, his upcoming movies and more.  

What’s your character like in ‘Bluff Master’?  What about Nandita Swetha’s character?

Humans are vulnerable to be fooled.  I have so many names in the film to hoodwink people.  He (hero’s character) is greedy after money.  His girlfriend, Avni, is a total contrast.  To her, love comes first.  When another character (played by Aditya Menon) enters the scene, how his life changes is the crux.  

Why were you chosen to play the role? How different is the movie compared to the original, ‘Sethuranga Vettai’?

I am glad Gopi anna (director) completely trusted me.  He didn’t want to cast an actor with a defined image.  The hero has to look like a common man, he felt.  He who cheats should very much look like a commoner, he thought.    The original and the remake are different.  Even the characterization is distinct.  For example, in a court episode, the hero explains how he swindled people.  This was done differently.  

Tell us about the makers and production values.

The director has worked like hell in order to get the best output.  He has had no other concern but for this product.  It’s the debut movie of the producer.  He has spent so much budget on me, an unproven name. We shot a scene in Kodai Kanal to convey the message that Avni and Akash Vihari (one of my names in the movie) are together.  Krishna Prasad garu is the presenter of this movie.  He has produced ‘Gentleman’ and such hits in the past.  

What is Prudhvi, the comedian, doing in the movie?

We haven’t revealed much about Prudhvi garu’s role because the first scam in the movie unveils itself through him.  I have had a good bonding with him since ‘Manavoori Ramayanam’.  

Are you trying different get-ups in different movies these days?

My look in the movie is entirely rugged in keeping with the character.  I am clean-shaven in ‘Antariksham’ and in ’47 Days’, in which I am a police officer, I have sported a different look.  Same goes for ‘Guvva Gorinka’.  

Are you open to playing all kinds of roles?

I never entered the industry to become a hero.  I am open to being a lead actor, a supporting actor, etc.  About 500 people auditioned for the hero’s role in ‘Jyothi Lakshmi’.  I was selected.  Puri Jagannadh garu asked me to put down my weight.  I shed 16 kg in two months.  It was then I told that I would be playing the lead actor.

I am choosing lead roles only because they are coming my way.  It doesn’t mean I am not open to playing other roles.  I am playing a role in Vivek Athreya’s next movie in Telugu.  I am doing a lead man’s role in Hindi.  The remake of a Malayalam movie is being planned.  I play roles that give importance for my character, for example, in ‘Antariksham’.  I am open to negative roles as well.