I follow my instinct when it comes to script selection: Sharwanand

Sharwanand has been good with choosing the right scripts that have had a good run at the box office. Yet, the slew of hits he has delivered for the last four-five years has little effect on him. His upcoming romcom, Padi Padi Leche Manasu (PPLM) is gearing up for release on Friday.

Directed by Hanu Raghavapudi, the film, set in the backdrop of Kolkata, is about a football team captain, who is head-over-heels in love with a doctor. Sharwa dons the role of the football player, and Sai Pallavi plays the doctor. “I'm feeling all kinds of positive vibes ahead of the release. Working with Hanu Raghavapudi was a delight. We were planning to do a film for a long time. PPLN is a convincing love story that connects with everyone and the audience will feel hooked to the story from start to end. The presentation is important for such love stories, and I’m sure Hanu has made it in a way that will be liked by the audience. There is no doubt that Hanu is the Mani Ratnam of Telugu cinema.”

Sharwa’s last film, Mahanubhavudu, was released in September 2017. Did the long gap between films bother him? “I prefer to work at leisurely pace and don’t feel insecure about gaps between releases. I choose films based on my comfort level. Content is the king. Story selection is the biggest responsibility in the career of an actor and I do it by myself. I go by my instinct and I believe in my judgement. The last few years have been really good for me and I always want to be a part of good cinema.”

Romantic shots are said to be the most difficult scenes for an actor, but the Run Raja Run actor reveals that he does not believe in preparation before the shot. “I've got a bound script, and I own my character. The way we react to situations in real life, that's exactly what I do in my films. If I prepare for a scene, especially a romantic shot, it doesn't look natural. So I always come with an open mind and do my job,” he explains.

Describing his co-star Sai Pallavi as a 'natural actor with impeccable talent', Sharwa reveals that both of them tried to match each other's level. “Hitting the right notes is always important and I think we were in our elements. That’s why our acting has translated into wonderful chemistry in this film,” he adds.

Known for his intense roles in films like Prasthanam and Gamyam, Sharwa has expanded his territory with Run Raja Run, Express Raja and Malli Malli Idi Rani Roju, among others. The 33-year-old actor says he does not want to get typecast in his films. “A lot of people in the industry had a misconception that I was only good at essaying serious roles, and were skeptical about my ability to pull off varied characters. Run Raja Run was an image-breaker for me, and since then, I’m not getting repetitive offers and am choosing films in diverse genres. I believe PPLM will be a game changer for me all over again. I want every character I portray to entertain the audience,” says the actor, who is in talks to reprise Vijay Sethupathi's role in 96 Telugu remake.

Sharwa is kicked about his next untitled film being directed by Sudheer Varma. “It’s a film that’s set across two timelines. Portions of the film were set against the 80s backdrop and it shows me as a gangster. So far, we have shot 50 per cent of the film,” he signs off.