For someone known for such phenomenal movies like 'Shiva', 'Ninne Pelladatha' and 'Annamayya', Akkineni Nagarjuna has not only continued making unconventional choices, but has also been a Box Office force to reckon with.

In this exclusive interview to IndiaGlitz, Nag talks answers a range of interesting questions, including about his relationship with Lord Venkateswara, his desire to do a mythological, why BO numbers don't have value, and so on.

'Annamayya' created history like no other. Is the subject of 'Om Namo Venkatesaya' bigger?

When I was told about the idea, I had the same doubt at the outset. I asked K Raghavendra Rao garu if it's going to be a greater film than 'Annamayya', given how good a film that was. He asked me to listen to the script before deciding on the next step.

Although there is nothing much interesting about the life of Annamayya, his beautiful 'kirtanas' are great. To my knowledge, the music sales (in terms of CD sales, etc) of that film are the highest.

In contrast, nothing much is known about Haathi Ram Baba. If you google, not more than a page of information is found about him. There is both fact and imagination in 'ONV'. It's an interesting screenplay. Swamy (Lord Venkateswara) used to play 'pachikalu' (game of dice) with him. They used to talk like friends. The scenes involving them (played by Nag and Saurabh Jain Shukla) are a major highlight of the movie.

Look-wise, how different is your look in 'ONV' compared with that in 'Annamayya', who was also a devotee of the Lord?

The variation is more in terms of emotions rather than the look. Some of the commonalities are the marks on the forehead ('namalu') and the hair style. It's in terms of the characterization that there is a lot of difference.

Annamayya was more of a soft character. 'ONV' is high on emotions. Baba is not a literary genius, unlike the former.

He sees the Tirumala hill as 'Vaikuntam', he wants the pujas to be held to no other but the Swamy, he insists that every flower that grows there is offered to Him, and insists that whatever happens should happen for the sake of the Lord. In a scene, he even reprimands a king.

I approached the role as per the vision of Raghavendra Rao garu and JK Bharavi garu.

It was Suman then, it's Saurabh Raj Jain this time who is playing the Lord. How has he performed the role?

He is very apt for the role. The audience will enjoy watching his expressions. The conversations between Baba and the Lord are very entertaining. Saurabh has a very good image in the North.

The songs of 'Annamayya' are timeless. They are heard in every home and at the holiest place of Tirumla itself. How does the music of 'ONV' compare to those songs?

'Annamayya' didn't create records overnight. Over a period of 20 years, the songs grew on and on in popularity.

The audio of 'ONV' went into the people quite fast in the age of instant downloads. They were played widely during the Sankranthi season. It's a beautiful music. The album has a lot of variety.

The 'kirtanas' in 'Annamayya' had been popular. Keeravani garu had to stick to the style and tunes created by the exponent. In this case, the music director brought out his creative genius. The album bears his own style. The songs 'Akhilandi Koti', 'Kamaneeyam', 'Veyi Naamala Vaada' are my personal favourites. Keeravani garu is as important as Raghavendra Rao garu for this movie. As for whether the songs will be played in the Tirumala hills, it's not in my hands.

ANR garu was the most beloved when it comes to playing a multitude of roles in devotionals. In your generation, it's you and only you for the genre. Everybody knows nobody else can play these roles. Your comments.

The thing is not many are doing such kind of movies in this age. People are not dealing with such stories. It takes a lot of self-confidence and guts on the part of the director to make such movies. Will should be there. Over a span of 20 years, I have done only three such movies. It's not like I am doing it every year. And only Raghavendra Rao garu is doing such subjects every time. I don't know about the future.

Anushka has mostly done commercial movies. It's the first time that she is doing a devotional. What is the highlight about her in 'ONV'?

She is like a guide for my character. Baba, who comes from the North, finds support in Krishnamma, who has been settled in Tirumala from childhood. She has sacrificed everything for God. Hers is a very important role in the film. It's good that the character was played by an actress with big image. She is a perfect fit.

What are the roles of Pragya Jaiswal and Jagapathi Babu in the movie?

Pragya's is the role of my 'maradalu'. There have to be doses of commercial entertainment. 'Anandam' song renders how a man has changed from the time he was a kid, how he is in his 20s, in his 30s, and so on. All the journey is shown in one song.

Jagapathi Bab's role is that of a king.

Your association with Raghavendra Rao goes back to many years. Have you seen any change in him from the days of 'Annamayya'?

He has been more devotional and religious in the last two decades. He has been associated with the TTD. When we used to do those non-devotional flicks, we both were younger, but even during those days, he would never come to the sets without performing puja at home.

What is the role of computer graphics in elevating 'ONV'?

We have shot at the original locations and also in the sets to depict 'Ananda Lokam', 'Vaikuntam', etc. A Tirupathi set was erected in Ramoji Film City to depict the exterior. The interior set was erect at Annapurna Studios. In films like 'Baahubali', you can tell the places ar