'I don’t take anything seriously'

After being away from the arc lights for about two years, Ravi Teja returns to enthrall the audience with Raja The Great. The 50-year-old actor plays a visually challenged wannabe cop in the film and is happy to have got an opportunity to showcase his acting prowess. “What actually got me excited was director Anil Ravipudi’s story in which my role is brilliantly knitted. I’m glad to play a different role and am quite satisfied with the output.”

Ask him if he took any training to get into the skin of Raja, the 'Mass Maharaja' says, “I didn’t do any homework. All I did was to follow my director’s conviction and my personal observation. We can’t say how visually challenged people behave, react to a situation and their surroundings. I realised that they are more powerful than us. So, I tried to give my own interpretation.”

He adds, “I was not craving for experimental roles and Raja The Great, like any of my other films, offers adequate entertainment, emotional quotient and has a good story. I've done many experimental films with good scripts in the past. But whenever I did them, the result has not been satisfying. Hence, I'd like to concentrate on films that entertain the audience. When I’m enjoying what I’m doing, I don’t see the need to experiment”

Prod him further about how he deals with lows in his life, and Ravi Teja explains, “I’m always immune to success and failure. I don’t take anything seriously.” Sharing some words of wisdom, the Bengal Tiger actor adds, “I go by my gut feeling, and if I like a script, I will definitely do it. I don’t let any other reasons influence me or my decisions. If you try to cheat, you are only cheating yourself and letting yourself down.”

The film also marks the debut of Ravi Teja’s son Mahadhan. “Anil wanted to rope in my son for my childhood role in the film. Initially, I was reluctant, eventually I gave it to the constant requests. I’m yet to watch his performance in the film.”

Admittedly, the Mass Maharaja is hurt over being blamed by a section of the media unknowingly over his alleged involvement in a drug racket. “I have absolutely no idea why my name was linked in that case. It was really disturbing to see a section of media floating some stories without checking the veracity of facts. Those stories shocked and upset my mother, father, wife and family. I’m a responsible person, both professionally and personally. I know what I’m to my family and people around me. But, I told myself, 'this too shall pass' and now I’m absolutely okay,” signs off Ravi Teja, who is slowly coming to terms with his brother Bharath Raju’s tragic demise.