Nagarjuna : For the Superstar, age isn't even a number, it's a breeze

Nagarjuna and I have known each another for 25 years, maybe more. He is never one to beat around the bush. He is most happy being one of the living legends of Telugu cinema. He never craved for success in Bollywood,  even though his Hindi films Zakhm, Criminal and Khuda Gawah did well in the  1990s. Now, he is all set to be reunited with his Khuda Gawah co-star Amitabh Bachchan in Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmastra.

He turns 63 today on August 29. It’s a working birthday for the actor and he’s happy to be getting roles that satisfy his craving for challenges. “I am lucky to be still working as a leading man at  a  time when my two sons have joined the film industry. I wouldn’t say I am at the fag-end of my career. But in the second-half of my career, I want to make sure every move makes me happy as an artiste. At the same time, I want my audiences’ approval for what I do.”

Nag’s two sons, Naga Chaitanya and Akhil, are now leading men. “So enough of those conventional romantic roles for me. I can’t be running around trees with my co-stars anymore. I have two sons who are now leading men in Telugu cinema working with the same heroines that I am working with. I am guiding them. But I don’t thrust my opinion on them. They are free too do what they like. I can only advise them. I don’t want them to be like me. I just want them to imbibe the good things from my life and ignore the rest.”

Nag has been married to the lovely Amala for 30 years. He says they are still as  much in love as they used to be. “I suppose it is the Hyderabad climate that make us so romantic. Look at Mahesh Babu and Namrata, still so much in love. I am blessed to have her as my soul mate. I must have done something good in my life to have her.”

Nag thinks this is a transitional phase for Telugu cinema. “Run-of-the-mill-films won’t work. A new phase has started in Telugu cinema. I think it’s a very exciting time to be an actor. I am looking at quite a few scripts. I want to keep trying something new all the time. It is the only way to grow. I’ve to be happy with the work I am doing. And to be happy, the role has to be challenging. And for the  role to be challenging, it has to be something I haven’t done before.”

He is all set to make a comeback to Hindi films with  Karan Johar’s exorbitant spiritual, sci-fi production, Brahmastra. The actor sounds a bit surprised at  being offered  a major Hindi film at this stage of his career. “My career in Andhra keeps me busy. I’ve not shown any inclination to do a Hindi film, though I’m open to doing films in any language if the set-up is good. Brahmastra was impressive from the moment it came to me. I said yes immediately”

Nag remains a famished actor. “I still hunger for great roles. I wish Rajamouli had asked me to do a role in Baahubali. I always wanted to do a lavish costume drama or a period film. I’ve never done one of these. I crave to do a film about lost kingdoms, kings in exiles and ethereal princesses. Even in Hollywood I love costume dramas like Troy and 300. I see period films like these whenever I am bored. And I am very unhappy that when we made our own Hollywood-styled spectacle, I wasn’t in it. Rajamouli should’ve cast me.”

Why did he distance himself from Hindi cinema? “I didn’t distance myself from Hindi cinema. It’s just that I was so content in Telugu cinema. By God’s grace, my career graph always showed an upswing. I was very content with what I had in Andhra. Fans in Andhra love my father, me and my sons unconditionally. But I am very proud of my Hindi films” he concludes.

Nag is there to guide his sons whenever they need his advice. When Nag  became an actor, his father guided him initially. Nag has adopted the same approach for his two sons Naga Chaitanya and Akhil. He advises them whenever they seek my advice, or when I see them going wrong. That’s it. No more than that.

For those who wonder what Nag eats to stay so fit, he reveals, it is normal ghar ka khana. Nag’s wife Amala and Nag are just lucky to be healthy. Nag has always been very health conscious. In fact, after Amala married him, she acquired a lot of  Nag’s traits including vegetarianism.

Nag’s favourite film from his own repertoire is the film that he did with his father, Manam. “It made me feel worthwhile. My father (the legendary Akkineni Nageshwara Rao) wanted to die with his with his boots on. He collapsed on the sets while doing a song. We actually had to carry him out of the sets. That’s the way I would like to go.”

Subhash K Jha is a Patna-based film critic who has been writing about Bollywood for long enough to know the industry inside out. He tweets at @SubhashK_Jha.

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