Nani wants scripts that challenge him

Ten years and over 20 films to his credit but actor Nani still gets jittery ahead of his film’s release. “I’m a tad nervous about MCA’s release. No matter how many films I've been a part of, I still wait for the audience's response like a newcomer,” says Nani.

In the film directed by Venu Sriram, Nani plays a middle-class youth, who doesn’t stand a chance against his vadina — played by Bhumika Chawla Thakur. Sharing his experience working with the actor, Nani says, “It was really fascinating to share the screen with her. I stood in a queue outside Ameerpet’s Satyam theatre to grab a lucky ticket to her blockbuster hit Kushi. We shared a few laughs recollecting that incident. Bhumika has a pure heart and she is family now. I consider her as my sister-in-law for real.”

Ask him how different his role is from those in his other films, and Nani says, “I know people are drawing comparisons between Nenu Local and MCA. The former shows me as an aimless guy, who lives on his own terms, but in MCA, every middle-class youth will relate to my character. He has his share of apprehensions and aspirations in life. He encounters a problem in his family and he stands by them. The trailer reveals everything about the film and I can confidently say MCA is a wholesome entertainer. Only the critics are comparing both the films, not the audience. If you see the trends, the advance bookings have been amazing.”

Nani is all praise for his co-star Sai Pallavi with whom he was paired for the first time. “She is a live wire and is undoubtedly one of the best actors I have worked with. The audience will fall in love with her characterisation and her presence is a valuable addition to MCA.”

So, what kinds of films interest Nani the most? The 33-year-old actor, who is on a roll with back-to-back hits explains, “Things I’ve not tried before excite me now. I’m craving for the scripts that challenge me and show me in a new light. Every day, I’m listening to many scripts, but none of them are riveting.”

On his upcoming films, Nani says, “I’m doing Krishnarjuna Yuddham, a multistarrer with Nagarjuna and a project with Hanu Raghavapudi is in the pipeline. I’m also producing a film titled Awe. The film is the first-of-its-kind in Indian cinema. Hence, I decided to bankroll it and roped in several popular stars to reach out to a larger audience.”