Tarun makes a comeback

Get set for yet another love story with actor Tarun in Idi Naa Love Story, which is set for release this Valentine’s Day. The 35-year-old actor is happy to be back after three years. He is also pleased with how the film has shaped up.

“It was not an intentional break, but an accidental one. All these years, I’ve heard a few scripts across languages but nothing excited me. After my last film Veta, I didn’t want to do a film just for the sake of it. I was waiting for a good role and happy to stage a comeback with an emotional love story like Idi Naa Love Story,” he says.

The two-time Nandi award winner is back from a promotional tour across colleges in the Telugu States and is overwhelmed with the response. “Working continuously gives me a high. Even though I’ve been away for some time, the love shown by the audience was amazing. I’ve realised that my popularity among youth hasn’t gone down, and in a way, this tour has increased my confidence.”

He doesn’t regret being away from the limelight. “I don’t have any regrets about being out of action. Instead of doing a film in a hurry, why not wait for a good story?”

The actor, who has been part of romedies like Nuvve Kavali, Priyamaina Neeku and Nuvve Nuvve, feels that the audience has accepted him in such roles and says he always enjoys doing love stories. “I have no complaints about my image as a lover boy or a chocolate boy. I am comfortable doing love stories. As long as the audience like me in those roles, I’m happy.”

In the midst of our conversation, the National award-winning actor brings an interesting fact to our notice. “My debut film (as a hero) Nuvve Kavali is a remake and my comeback film Idi Naa Love Story is also remake. It’s a strange coincidence and I’m hoping for a similar result,” he says, adding, “When directors Gopi and Ramesh showed me the Kannada version Simple Agni Ondh Love Story, I found it refreshing and instantly connected to the lead character. However, this is a completely different film and we've incorporated a few scenes to suit local sensibilities. The original has a light-hearted treatment, but our film digs deep into emotions and personalities. It entirely revolves around the lead pair, their conflict, conversations and has no negative character.”

Calling Mani Ratnam his guru, Tarun reminisces, “I was seven when I did Anjali. Back then, it didn’t occur to me how big a director he was. I discovered his importance only at 15. I met him twice or thrice during my recent visits to Chennai, but we never discussed anything about films. If I ever get an opportunity again, I will be more than happy to work with him.”

The actor says he is open to working in other languages, but Telugu is always his priority. “Initially, we wanted to make Idi Naa Love Story in Telugu and Tamil, but dropped the idea in the eleventh hour as the Tamil rights were acquired by some other filmmaker.”

With fame come controversies. Tarun’s name popped up in a drugs case and he was summoned for questioning. Denying his involvement, he shares, “I really don’t know why my name was linked and it was a normal inquiry. These rumours are part and parcel of our lives, and being an actor, we have to deal with it. One can’t keep thinking about it. I’m happy with the way my career is progressing with good films and I don’t want to linger over the past.”

About his new films, Tarun says, “I’ve committed to doing a film each with two newcomers. I will announce the other details around the secon week of March.”