By Naga Chaitanya Reflects on 15 Years in Cinema and His Bollywood Prospects
- As of September, Naga Chaitanya marks 15 years since his acting debut with ‘Josh.’
- Unlike many of his South Indian contemporaries who are bridging cinematic gaps, Chaitanya remains uninterested in the allure of Bollywood.
- Despite his Bollywood debut in ‘Lal Singh Chaddha’ with Aamir Khan, 13 years after his Tollywood start, Chaitanya’s focus remains on Telugu cinema.
- He prioritizes compelling stories over pan-India fame, stating, “Audiences accept good content in any language.”
- The Akkineni heir has no immediate plans for Bollywood projects, citing the prevalent dubbing of South Indian films into Hindi.
- He expresses willingness to return to Bollywood only for exceptional roles, as he did with ‘Lal Singh Chaddha’ to work with Aamir Khan, whom he admires.
Naga Chaitanya on Shifting Roles and the Appeal of Visual Spectacles
- The actor seems to be transitioning away from his romantic hero persona. In his latest film, ‘Custody,’ a period action thriller, he portrayed a police constable up against a notorious gangster.
- In the neo-noir thriller ‘Dhootha,’ marking his OTT debut, Chaitanya played a morally complex journalist.
- The ‘Majili’ star believes that larger-than-life visual spectacles are currently the main draw for audiences in theatres amid the OTT boom.
- He emphasizes that a visual extravaganza cannot be created just to meet market demands. “It must be an organic process where the content dictates the project’s scope, and most importantly, you must fit the character,” he states.
- “I spent nearly nine months preparing for ‘Thandel’,” he adds, underscoring his commitment to character authenticity.
