Over the last 17 years, Nani has carefully carved a distinct identity for himself in Telugu cinema as a connoisseur of ‘sensible’ cinema, as someone who prioritised sensitive, family-friendly stories over everything else. The actor’s latest release, HIT: The Third Case, however, is a far cry from the regular template. The violent thriller, directed by Sailesh Kolanu, has received an 'A' certificate from the Censor Board. Nani, however, is not bothered about his film’s box office potential being affected by the same. He asserts that his film aims at a specific group of audiences. He adds, “Definitely, drawing a huge family audience has its perks. But I believe if you strongly connect with your target audience or the audience of your film’s core genre, that is enough. Those who didn’t watch Hi Nanna are excited for this, and vice versa.”
Nani talks at length about the depiction of violence in HIT 3 and its pros and cons. The actor writes off the theory that a film like that can fuel violence in society, saying, “Those who are already inclined towards violence will be inspired by violent films. Perhaps they will be inspired by the method of crimes, but films do not create criminal mindsets.” However, the HIT 3 actor is cognisant of the influence of on-screen violence on kids and young adults. He states, “Kids can become desensitised with these films. To them, the visuals of beating or bullying others can look stylish or fashionable.” The actor adds, “I think I am a responsible citizen. I won’t go in with a blind aggression to achieve a certain viewership.”
Further talking about the violence in HIT: The Third Case, Nani notes, “The violence is driven by narrative in our film. We haven’t glorified violence in it. After watching the film, I hope you will agree that even the violence in it is unique and different from other films.” Talking about factors that differentiate HIT 3 from other thrillers or the previous two instalments in the HIT franchise, Nani states, “It’s not a whodunnit but rather a 'howdunit'. From the first shot of the teaser, we have clearly established this element. HIT 3 is not anything like HIT or HIT 2. There is no twist in the climax. We still hope to give an edge-of-seat experience, but it thrives on experience, not suspense.”
The Jersey actor also talks about what it is like to transition between multiple roles, such as the sensitive Viraj in Hi Nanna to a ruthless cop like Arjun in HIT 3. Nani explains, “It’s difficult only if you don’t enjoy your work. For instance, I shot straight for 48 hours for an action sequence in this film. But such was the rush that I was in a bright mood throughout the shoot and even when I returned home after that. On the other hand, I don’t enjoy dubbing as much — so sometimes, after a mere four-hour dubbing session, I will be all dried up. The ease of your work is directly proportional to your enjoyment of it."
HIT 3 is slated for a pan-India release, clashing against other big films like Suriya-starrer Retro and Ajay Devgn's Raid 2. Nani regards the competition, like the said box-office clash, as a good thing for the Indian film industry. “It’s my genuine belief that if any film does well, overall business will see progress. Some other makers get tense if a film releasing slightly before their film does well. But I think it only means that theatres will see major footfall.”
Nani, who ventured into production in 2013, has bankrolled many acclaimed films like Awe! and Court. He also bankrolled the previous two instalments of the HIT franchise. Nani, however, states he doesn’t think of himself as a producer. He adds, “I am a creative producer — or rather, an impractical producer. I go by pure passion and don’t think too much about the budget. If I pick the right content, it works out — and so far, it has, thankfully.”
Nani’s previous production, the recently released Court, was a major hit. HIT 3, too, has registered strong numbers at the advance booking counters, both domestically and internationally. The actor is quick to dismiss the notions of diminished interest in theatrical visits for audiences. He says, “Even if there is a lull period of a few weeks at the box office, everyone goes bonkers, saying things like ‘It’s over, bad times ahead for the industry,’ etc. It’s just that we are not able to create that excitement in the audience. It’s not enough to think of our films as great; they should excite filmgoers as well.” Nani also mentions that he doesn’t think of himself as a separate entity from the audience, especially when it comes to choosing scripts. “My belief is — if I like it, the audience will like it,” he notes.