Kannada star Shiva Rajkumar is in Hyderabad to promote the film Kurma Avatar. Directed by Harsha Vardhan, the film is a mythological action thriller. Senior actor Saikumar is playing an important role in it, along with Varalaxmi Sarath Kumar and Raj Tarun. The film’s teaser was unveiled in Hyderabad, and on the occasion, Saikumar shared his emotional bond with Shiva Rajkumar.
The actor said that he was surprised when director Harsha narrated the story to him. He revealed that his first emotional connection with the film was its setting. “When he said that the film is Kurma Avathar, I know the place Sree Kurmam, where the Lord Sree Kurma Avathar is. My wife belongs to Srikakulam, and many times I travelled to Srikakulam, Arasavilli and Sree Kurmam. This is the first emotional connection to me with this film,” said Sai Kumar.
He said that when the director narrated the characters to him, he was curious to know who would be playing the important role of Kala Bhairava. “Then I came to know that Karunada Chakravarthy, he is like a brother to me, Shivanna is playing it. I felt very happy when I heard that he is playing the character,” said Saikumar.
The actor also recalled his family’s association with the Rajkumar family. “My mother worked in Kannada cinema and she worked with Dr Rajkumar in a film, where Rajkumar garu played Krishna and my mother played Satyabhama,” recalled Saikumar. He added that his father was also associated with Shiva Rajkumar’s father, Dr Rajkumar. “My father (PJ Sharma) lent his voice for many Rajkumar’s films when they were dubbed in Telugu like Babruvahan, Naa Ninna Mareyelare, Mayura and so many other films,” said Saikumar about his association with the Rajkumar family.
The actor said that he has completed 50 years in the film industry and that the Kannada film industry gave him the opportunity to play the hero. His Kannada film Police Story became a huge success in both Kannada and Telugu. “My mother is from Karnataka, I acted in so many Kannada films and my brothers Ravi Shankar and Ayyappa Sharma also worked in Kannada films and are still working. I have a long relationship with the Kannada film industry,” said Saikumar.
On this occasion, the senior actor recalled a few memories of working with Shiva Rajkumar and how Shivanna acted as his dupe in the film A.K.47. “The film was made in two languages and Shivanna played in the Kannada version and I did the Telugu version. Shivanna took the first shot and then I followed. In the climax scene, I fell and got injured and my face had a few stitches. I went to the shoot, but Shivanna advised me to go home for rest, but the director wanted to take one shot. But I couldn’t do one scene, and then Shivanna acted as my dupe and completed the scene,” recalled Saikumar, praising Shivanna as a down-to-earth person. He added that both of them wore the same dress in the same colour for that particular scene.
He also recalled an action scene from the same film, in which Ram Shetty was the action choreographer and Ashish Vidhyarthi played the villain. “I went to watch the morning show and the audience clapped for a particular scene. But actually, that scene was performed by Shivanna, not me. It was an upshot which I couldn’t do, and Shivanna came forward and wanted to do the same for me. It came out very well,” said Saikumar, recalling the memory.
“He is a wonderful person and we are working in another upcoming film Bail, which also includes Jayaram garu. Pawan Wadeyar is the director,” said Saikumar. He added that he is also working in another Kannada film, Sathya S/o Harishchandra.
Saikumar said that he had acted with Radikaa and Sarath Kumar and that this is the first time he is working with Varalaxmi Sarath Kumar in Kurma Avatar.