EP - 118 | 🔥🤩 HIS VIBE IN THIS EPISODE 👌🏻 | FT ARJUN SARJA GARU | Telugu Podcast | Raw Talks With VK |

00:00 Wherever they go, they understand only two languages. Success and money. I had an interview with Mr. Uri Jagannath. He's very wild. They even catch hold of our balls and intestines. I was shocked to hear that. He drank it all. Sir, I saw your b*****d. How can he drink it all? I'm a little angry. I'm trying to control myself. The train came near me. I couldn't let go. I have a photo of myself as an Indian Bruce Lee When I wake up in the morning, I'm like, Mug of coffee, turn on the TV. I've done this yesterday, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that, I've done that,

01:07 I was thinking that I am more than that character. You are a human being, you are a god, you are a monkey and you are a philosopher. Even if it's an emotion, we should be like a monkey in it. But if this is the decision, it's a big stake right? What big stake? We came here with nothing. What big stake? After some years, if you just look back, there's nothing. We danced, we fought. You have to explore properly as an actor. I heard you have a background in this. Who told you this? I heard you sing well. Sing a song for us. I said, get out of the car. Bro, let's go. Who told you about music? I heard it, sir. Get lost, you moron!

02:58 It's a gift. To become a popular artist is a big gift. Basically, I believe that there is a lot of real talent out there. I saw a video of yours. When your song was released, you called Gaddar's wife and all. You said that too. I believe that. There is a lot of talent out there. So, it's our good fortune. It's an opportunity. If everyone gets the opportunity, they will become big. I always believe. So, this is the 45th year of being in the film industry. And it's a fortune.

03:41 Very big fortune. Absolutely. And I wanted to ask you, generally between a director and a producer, the conflicts are generally, when it comes to direction department, you have to show it in this grandeur, like this. When it comes to production, you have to look at it in this extent, and until it is possible, you have to be able to do it. But when you are playing both, how will be that conflict? Your direction versus your production. How will that conflict be? I mean... There is a guarantee because there is an understanding. If a director says that he wants 3 cameras, I will say, I am the producer here, right? Where is the money? I mean, it's okay now. In the beginning, I was totally zero. That was very challenging for me. Production and all. But finally, the director is to dominate.

04:34 I will somehow get it. I need this. So there is a conflict. But since we are the same age, there is no conflict. But there is an understanding. I will adjust a little. I can't tell you if it's an outsider. Only two, right? And as you said, when you were in the deep stage, you bounced back and came back to the production. How was that stage, sir? Generally, when a stage is set, many people feel like they've lost everything. Youngsters now, when they get hit hard, they think it's not a hit, it's over. They think it's a full stop. So what was your stage like? How did you feel at that time?

06:21 Directors would leave me and go. They would say, Arjun, shoot two scenes from this. I have some work. I would say, yes, and shoot. So, those scenes would get an appreciation. They would say, you did a good job. What is that freshness? What is that freshness? That is... So, my confidence... I mean, technically, I am a technical oriented person. What lens would they use? How would it look if I use this lens? I observed everything. So then I thought I will direct a film. Then I have to produce the film. Then I have to sell my only property. I have to sell. Everything was over. The film was almost finished. No one would take it. And... The money was over. What did you do in that time? No one came to my office.

07:19 I was sitting at the table like a fool. I was not able to distribute the film. I projected the film. Some people watched the first half and left. There were only 10-12 people left to watch the second half. I was watching the film for the first time as a director. I was excited as a director. But as a producer, I was still... I was nervous. I was like, who will watch this and leave? 12 people watched the film and left. Second half was extraordinary. Okay. The next day, two people came to my office. They came with a bag. They said, sir, will you give this area? I said, yes, I will. You were waiting for that. I was waiting for that. And then, people liked it. I released the film.

08:18 I also distributed it. I said I am not giving the city. I want to do publicity. People proved the movie. My fans proved it. It was a big bang. Comeback. Then I did another movie. Pratap. That was a big hit too. I have a list. Then came Gentleman. Oh that one. My mother told me to tell you the list. Tell me. I asked my mother to tell me a list of movies that she liked. Your mother? Yes, my mother. She told me a list. After half an hour, she called me again. She said, don't ask about Gentleman. So, in these movies, from the first movie you mentioned, so many movies, like Hanuman Junction, each movie comes with a mark. People have a bond.

09:11 mothers, my age, when we look down, when you are so connected, naturally you can play multiple roles. Not just acting roles, producer or the stories you are telling now, how was the commercial for that movie? The first movie. Super hit. So, first first movie, you went to zero and then came back. That's definitely a... That's a very big experience. Exactly. Experience, at that time, in that movie, I was composing all the fights in my pictures. Mostly. I was composing the climax of that picture. When I was composing, I was mentally, financially, emotionally exhausted. I didn't know what to do for the next day's shooting. I had money and everything. I had to compose the fight. Everything was ready. The scene was done. All the fighters were ready. I had to light the lights.

10:12 I was totally gone. Then I said, no, no. I can't do this. Do something about the lighting. I was 29 years old at that time. So, when I was like that, I got some shots like the jump cuts in the movie. My wife sold me the same property. My mother came and told me with confidence. Direct the movie with your confidence. I am there. I will sell anything. My mother said. I came to the cinema like a jump cut and stood there. I took the camera and said, light, light, come on, put the lights here. All the fighters come. And the climax fight was composed in that film. So even now when I watch that film, I remember only the pain behind that.

11:02 When you watch a movie, you don't see these shots. You see what I did before. There is a lot in that movie. It's like a very big experience. Definitely. Every movie is an experience. Every movie has its own story. And as you said earlier, after you reach the base stage, you had to sell off the single property and produce your own movie. Because you've seen maybe peak in the money and at the same time, you've seen this stage. If I ask you, what is money according to you? Money, according to me, is nothing. Because wherever you go, the people and this society, they understand only two languages. Success and money. Very deep, yeah.

11:53 Success and money, you can understand these two languages. Wherever you go, you can think, no, no, I know him since so many days, I know him since so many days, I am so close. You said earlier, when that day comes, you know who's friend it is. Especially, very successful people, very rich people have this problem. Anyone can If they want to talk for a minute, what comes to their mind immediately is, are they asking for a favour? Which is very very bad. So, the answer to your question is, money is very important. Very very important. Only if you have it, unfortunately, you will have respect. Very true sir. Till now, there is a brand called Lalitha Jewelers, when its founder came, Kiran sir said the same thing. Money is respect.

12:57 Definitely deep. I mean, if there is no success and money, we can't keep anyone. Who will respect you? If you say he is a good person, he will say, okay, he is a good person. Yes, he is a very good person. Goodness will not stop until it reaches someone. Yes, he is a good person. That's all. I know a person, I won't say his name. He has no name, no fame, nothing. He just came and stole money. Immediately, they accepted him as a big shot. He doesn't have any achievement, nothing. Only money. He is God. How can he give this and that? So, he is spending money with a strategy. We know that. See, that's how. People don't know the sin. So, money is very important. And I heard some stories in your journal.

13:58 I'm talking very philosophically, right? No sir, much needed. When Jagabathbaba sir was talking about friendship in an interview, I thought maybe whenever I meet you, I didn't expect a podcast, I mean, I don't know the scope, but I have to ask you one thing. What is friendship? What is relation according to you? You're asking so deeply. Friendship is nothing, it's like just you should have somebody When you are in need. It's not only money. Not just for money. Moral support at least. Somebody should be there. Not all your friends will have money. But the heart. Yes, I'm there. That's friendship. Looking at your acting career. You have decades of experience as a lead actor. At the same time, you have been in villain roles.

14:58 How was this transformation sir? What did it take internally for you? To take that decision and go to the villains? I have seen a video, I read an article about Maniratnam sir's topic. Maniratnam sir did that to me. How was the transformation at that time? What did you think? I know Mr. Mani from a very long time. From the time I did Jeyam, I got to know him. So, after that, whenever we meet, we have to work together. We have to do a film together. So, I came and offered a villain character. He said, why are you waiting for so many years? Why leave the villain and do something else? I said, do it. It will be different. Do it for me. He said, listen. If you don't like it, I said no.

15:56 Kadali came out. I heard about it. Kadali movie. I got Best Actor award for that too. So, that movie. That was my first villain. They are asking so much for a big director. I like him as a director. Very passionate director. So, I made that movie for him. After that, Vishal. Vishal's Abhimanyu. It came out in Tamil. It would have been bad if it was a movie. Yes. Technology is the king. Really? He worked with me as assistant director. He did 2-3 films. He was scared to ask me. He was scared to ask me how to play a villain in this film.

16:51 So, somehow, people were coming to me, and I had to talk to them. You were coming indirectly. Yes, I was coming indirectly. After that, no one spoke to me. The editor called me. He said, Ruben, there is a story. If you don't like it, then don't say anything. Then, just listen to it. He said. So, I listened to the story. After listening to the story, I felt, okay, this has got metal. If I do this correctly, this will be like a landmark. Then I said yes, we'll do. That's how that movie happened. It was a very big hit actually. I'm a gentleman, I've come to this at the same time. The appreciation I got then, I got that much appreciation for the movie. So, I'm going to do part 2 of it. Wherever I go, they ask me to do part 2. So, I'm like a villain. The movie will close with an over-entry. Abhimanyu's movie too, at the end. There will be a feeling that you are still there. There is a story. We shot a super scene. Okay. So...

16:51 So, somehow, people were coming to me, and I had to talk to them. You were coming indirectly. Yes, I was coming indirectly. After that, no one spoke to me. The editor called me. He said, Ruben, there is a story. If you don't like it, then don't say anything. Then, just listen to it. He said. So, I listened to the story. After listening to the story, I felt, okay, this has got metal. If I do this correctly, this will be like a landmark. Then I said yes, we'll do. That's how that movie happened. It was a very big hit actually. I'm a gentleman, I've come to this at the same time. The appreciation I got then, I got that much appreciation for the movie. So, I'm going to do part 2 of it. Wherever I go, they ask me to do part 2. So, I'm like a villain. The movie will close with an over-entry. Abhimanyu's movie too, at the end. There will be a feeling that you are still there. There is a story. We shot a super scene. Okay. So...

17:52 I planned it to do part 2. I don't know. The director is conceiving something else. And again, next, Illiyo. That was also my first thought. Why so many villains? That teaser was bad. I saw a lot of comments saying that they expected more from Arjun. So I did that. Live here Same thing, I don't want it. Anu Raghavalli, the director When a director says he will present it differently, we feel new. What did she do? Why did she do it? Let's do something else. Then you don't feel like a hero or villain. So that's how this transformation. As an actor, I have to do something else. That's what a hero is.

18:46 There are limitations in acting like dancing and songs. If you do this kind of... You know, Abhimanyu. I can do anything. I can emote. I can emote in any way. If a scene director gives me a script, I can think about it 4-5 times. But if I do it as a hero, I can't do that much. So, again I stopped. I made a film called Herogan. It is going to release soon. Which language is it? Where did you make it? Tamil. It is coming in Telugu. It is full of action. Family action.

19:25 Family action. It's very different. But this decision has a lot of stakes. From the hero... What's there to say? We came here with nothing. What's the big stake? I came here and spent 100 crores. What's the big stake? I don't know what to do. There's no such scene. When we came, there was no film. In the first picture, everyone is new faces. We didn't bring anything. So, there's no stakes. You have to explore properly as an actor. Otherwise, after some years, if you just look back, nothing will be there. We might have danced, we might have fought, nothing will be there. As an actor, if you look back, there should be some good projects. So that's what I believe in. Sir, for every actor, in his entire journey, now almost 160 plus movies maybe, every actor has a moment, right? A euphoria.

20:17 I will never forget this moment when I watched my film in the theatre. So, in your life, especially in Telugu, do you remember any such moments? There are many. They are very different. How much they loved us when we went to the theatre, how they treated us. We stood in the border for our country. They showed us so much love by saying that we shot from Pakistan. I didn't understand it in the beginning. I was like, is it this much? If they like it, is it this much? So that became a responsibility for me. Is it this much? I have to save this. I have to save it by showing so much love. Once it was over, this love became strange. I think it was in Nellore. So I had to come to the car from the hotel. If you have so many people, you can't even control. But I have to go to the car.

21:25 I had to walk to the car. It was about 100 feet away. My assistant said, let's go there as if we are going to save someone. Let's go fast. No, there are so many people. How can we go inside? They were saying, oh! No, sir, we are here. At that time, my assistant's moustache was like this. Okay. His voice was good. Come, come. Brother, let's go. I also got a little tired and left. I didn't know where they were in the middle. Oh no! They pushed me and said, where are they? I looked there and they were like, bro, bro, bro, they were somewhere far away. I sat there and got into the car. It was an ambassador car. I sat there and the glass door opened on both sides. Suddenly, there were 15 people on this side and 10 people on the other side. They put their hands on each other's shoulders. This is love for them. They don't want to hurt me.

22:29 But I was getting hurt, they were pulling me from both sides. I did my best to pull and let go of the hand and said, take the car. Then the car came. After that, I was coming back after half an hour. So, what I was going to say is, their love sometimes becomes a little difficult. But it's part of actor's life. Actually, I had an interview with a Puri Jagannath sir. There was a bite, and while talking to him, you... I mean, just the other side of the coin. Everything is nice, but some actors and actresses get into trouble. He told me another perspective. He was told by male actors. Sometimes, they are very wild. They even catch hold of our balls and dust.

22:29 But I was getting hurt, they were pulling me from both sides. I did my best to pull and let go of the hand and said, take the car. Then the car came. After that, I was coming back after half an hour. So, what I was going to say is, their love sometimes becomes a little difficult. But it's part of actor's life. Actually, I had an interview with a Puri Jagannath sir. There was a bite, and while talking to him, you... I mean, just the other side of the coin. Everything is nice, but some actors and actresses get into trouble. He told me another perspective. He was told by male actors. Sometimes, they are very wild. They even catch hold of our balls and dust.

23:25 I am shocked that it happens to men. If you get an actor in the fans, will they behave so wildly? I have a friend who has done this. He has made me laugh a lot. Did you hear that? No, not as much as he said. He is pulling my hand like this. He is not letting go. In the railway station, my wife is there. She has to walk a little. He came like that. He was drinking like a pig, and he was eating like a pig. I was like, sir, I saw your movie, sir. He was eating like a pig. I was a little angry. So I was controlling myself. The train came closer. He wasn't letting go. First, I told my wife to get on the train. I took him off and threw him there. That far. I mean, every time, it's a loose temper.

24:25 I mean, not everyone, but he would trouble us a lot. He fell down. He said, will you come to our village and make us fall down? We said, get lost, you idiot. We got on the train and left. This happens. Actually, what does it mean, sir? Idiot? Like in the movie, the guy... Hey, get lost, you idiot. Like that. Okay, okay. Not bad. I think everyone has two sides of the coin. Definitely. Got it. Generally sir, when I talk to actors or celebrities, I get the feeling that being normal is not normal for actors.

24:25 I mean, not everyone, but he would trouble us a lot. He fell down. He said, will you come to our village and make us fall down? We said, get lost, you idiot. We got on the train and left. This happens. Actually, what does it mean, sir? Idiot? Like in the movie, the guy... Hey, get lost, you idiot. Like that. Okay, okay. Not bad. I think everyone has two sides of the coin. Definitely. Got it. Generally sir, when I talk to actors or celebrities, I get the feeling that being normal is not normal for actors.

25:08 You can't easily show your emotions. It's very sensitive, right? Even if you talk, even if you open your mouth, or even if you use a word, that will be highlighted. At the same time, you are maintenance also. I'm always listening to you, Action King, Indian Rusli. I have a photo. I was thinking of starting with that. While looking at this photo, Yes, there were packs of it already. What do you think about this fame, name? Is it a pressure for you? Or is it... It's okay, you feel like you have to accept whatever comes with it. What do you feel about it? You mean, this name, fame? Because of that, you have to be very careful. You cannot be normal as... Nothing like that. I don't believe in all that. I'm normal. I'm very, very normal.

26:01 When I go home, no one knows that I am an actor. You behave like that? Not at all. I don't carry... When my kids are small, I bathe them, polish their shoes and socks, drop them to school at the peak of my career. You are saying, gentlemen, this time, all this time. So, I am a normal father. They don't know either. like, my father will be like this when he comes home, or my father is an actor, or anything like that. They can speak anything with me. Even my colleagues at home are like that. So, I never got that tag. So, I didn't miss anything in life. What do you call a normal person? Except, what I missed was, if I wanted to go out and eat a good idli, I couldn't. So, I miss these things.

27:06 Life has given more than that. Like I said earlier, bread and butter. Bread, butter and jam. You can't imagine this kind of money anywhere. Plus, if you are a popular actor, you won't find this much love. I met all your mothers. See how much love they are giving. Where do you find this? If you stand next to a politician and an actor, people come to see the actors. Absolutely. I am not saying that politicians are less. No, no. But popularity. So all this is because of the cinema. Everything comes. I don't have to worry about not being able to eat an idli somewhere on the roadside. Because life has given so much being an actor.

27:06 Life has given more than that. Like I said earlier, bread and butter. Bread, butter and jam. You can't imagine this kind of money anywhere. Plus, if you are a popular actor, you won't find this much love. I met all your mothers. See how much love they are giving. Where do you find this? If you stand next to a politician and an actor, people come to see the actors. Absolutely. I am not saying that politicians are less. No, no. But popularity. So all this is because of the cinema. Everything comes. I don't have to worry about not being able to eat an idli somewhere on the roadside. Because life has given so much being an actor.

28:02 And you talk about your fitness, sir. Generally, you have money, time and a good trainer. That's not enough to be consistent, to be so fit, maintain... Money is not necessary. Time, nothing. You don't need a trainer. You need motivation. Self-motivation. Not like, someone comes and says, get up, exercise, give it, take care of your body, take care of your health. We should wake ourselves up You have to keep your hand on your head and push yourself to the gym or like exercise. If we have that, that will stay for longer. Like everyone else, when I wake up in the morning, I just feel like sitting with a mug of coffee, turn on the TV. I did it yesterday, I did it the day before, I always do this. After so many years, I don't want this exercise. I feel like that. It's not that I feel like that. Then, no.

29:01 This is not you. Why people like you? That's one thing. Another thing is, why are you looking younger than your age? Why are you healthy? Because of this. So you have to do something for us. I'm watching a video. I think it's Swami Jino. He said a good thing. It stuck with me. If you take care of your body for one hour, Your body will take care of you for 23 hours. Right. So, it's true. Just take care of your body for half an hour or one hour. The rest, I'll take care of. So, health is very important. Everybody should know this. Absolutely. So, we should have self-motivation. For our sake. Not because you became an actor. It's not because our profession needs it. It's for you, your family, you should be healthy.

30:08 When your family needs you, you should be there. Yes, I'm ready with full energy. Very true. That's very important. And you said something funny about fear. You said you have to maintain it. It's fear. People will see it. Right, sir. Now, your mother has come. I'll keep you in my stomach in the morning. Namaskaram. I'm fine. My films are all like this. Inside. What is this guy? He has become so thin. What is he doing? Next film will be Arjun's film. It would have been good then. Now what? It's enough. So, this fear. Every actor should have this fear. So, there should be fear in everything.

30:08 When your family needs you, you should be there. Yes, I'm ready with full energy. Very true. That's very important. And you said something funny about fear. You said you have to maintain it. It's fear. People will see it. Right, sir. Now, your mother has come. I'll keep you in my stomach in the morning. Namaskaram. I'm fine. My films are all like this. Inside. What is this guy? He has become so thin. What is he doing? Next film will be Arjun's film. It would have been good then. Now what? It's enough. So, this fear. Every actor should have this fear. So, there should be fear in everything.

31:01 How long did you work out? I had a foundation. You showed me a photo of you when you were young. I worked a lot then. Not just for an hour, but for hours. If I got time, I would go for running, playing games, Karate, horse riding, swimming, gymnastics. You just name it. I did all that. So, I had a foundation. I gave the foundation to the building. Even if you don't paint the building, it will look good. But you have to paint it. It has to have consistency.

31:46 That is taking care. Right. But I do it. How do you manage when you are on such schedules? It's not schedule, it's not this, it's schedule. That's schedule. First, you have to keep all the exercises as schedule. Then this will be the schedule. If you don't care for it, it won't be a schedule. We keep the food as schedule. What? I have to finish my breakfast in the morning. It's getting late. I have to do my breakfast. I have to do my breakfast. I have to do my breakfast. I have to do my breakfast. I have to do my exercise. That will become your schedule. It took me a lot of time to catch you on the call. Because everything you've been managing. I thought you'd ask if I'll skip it at this time. But I got the answer. No, sorry. Another thing that I found interesting in your life is a movie called Suyamvaram.

32:37 You shot it in one day. It was shot by 30 prominent actors, almost 19 cinematographers and 14 directors in one day. In different locations. You have directed a movie in that. I mean, you have directed a part. What is the story? You shot the film in 24 hours in one day, released it the next day and it is a Guinness World Record. It is a commercial business worth 50 crores. If you can talk about that. I don't know about the monetary gains, but they outed the story. I started direction at that time. I think I directed 10 or 12 films. They told me that each of us has a part in this. Karthik is doing this, another actor is doing that. So, my portion was... They gave me my image. Okay, a terrorist has to take out a bomb. They put action and fight scenes in it. One or two fights. So, we had to shoot it in a day. If we shoot it today morning, we won't be able to finish it by tomorrow morning. They gave us a schedule of 7 to 7, right?

33:40 So that's how my portion started. So I finished my portion and left for the next one. So we shot the whole fight. Normally it takes 2-3 days to shoot a fight. We shot the fight, scenes and everything in one day. It was a different attempt. It was new for us. Sometimes the actor in my episode has to be with another director. There is a different timing adjustment. I would say, I will send him in 2 hours. If you don't send him, I will be finished. I have to finish it. I would call the managers and say, I will send him on time. It will take time to travel from here to there and to another set. The director will be waiting. I would say that and there would be this pressure.

34:34 It was a nice experience. It was a big case study. And the movie was live edited. It was edited at that time and released the next day. It was not released the next day. But the shooting part was completed. I was just asking. Without any imbalance. If we start today, the movie will be over by tomorrow. It's crazy. We hear it everywhere. But in our next state... Amazing. I was just asking. I thought you might have forgotten. I just remembered. I took all the key points. I brought the ones that are worth talking about. You should also talk about Srimanjana's story. How was the travel with all the co-stars like Soundarya and Chiranjeevi? How was it working with them? That was a very great experience. Soundarya was my very closest friend.

34:34 It was a nice experience. It was a big case study. And the movie was live edited. It was edited at that time and released the next day. It was not released the next day. But the shooting part was completed. I was just asking. Without any imbalance. If we start today, the movie will be over by tomorrow. It's crazy. We hear it everywhere. But in our next state... Amazing. I was just asking. I thought you might have forgotten. I just remembered. I took all the key points. I brought the ones that are worth talking about. You should also talk about Srimanjana's story. How was the travel with all the co-stars like Soundarya and Chiranjeevi? How was it working with them? That was a very great experience. Soundarya was my very closest friend.

35:26 Jagabathibabu, Samandari and I are very close friends. The heroine in that film was a girl. We had a very nice give and take. It was very competitive. I would do this, you do that. We would decide on one mode. It was a very good rap. And again, Raghavendra Rao, he directed... He is a wonderful director. No matter how big or heavy the scene is, or heavy movie, he would sit silently with a small mic and say everything. We can see that he is a great director who can quickly make us feel if a scene is heavy or not. And with Chiranjeevi, that's my first...

36:21 I mean, we knew each other since 84. We knew each other well. But the act we did together was this. Srimanjana. He did the role of Shiva. So we had a wonderful time. He called me while dubbing. He said, what a great job you did. There is a scene where he feeds me food. So that scene he liked it very much. I said, you did a great job. And even that movie got the best actress in Kannada. And she was almost in tears because I didn't get the role. You have done a very good job. I didn't give you that. You had so many nice experiences.

37:22 I have seen a few movies that I am very connected to. I will watch it again and again. One is Srimanjana Ada, another is Sree Anjaneyam, and the last one is Laiyogam movie. I watch it with interest. At the same time, Abhimanyu is also a good movie. Vishal's movie. I acted like a villain. Let's talk about the two movies first. Sri Anjaneya and Okkai Okkodu. I remember a few scenes from Sri Anjaneya's movie. Nithin asks you to leave. He wakes you up. He raises his hand. You are a god there. You behave like a god. He smiles sarcastically.

38:04 You have to show anger, sadness, confusion, all of it. Did I show it? 100%! So my question is, what was the pattern or rituals, each actor has his own rituals, right? When you were doing that role, maybe some patterns followed. I wanted to ask specifically about that role. Over to you. In all the films I have acted in, I was thinking more about that character. What should I do with him? Because as rightly you said, it's a god. There should be a godly feeling. And then monkey. He should be like a monkey. And philosopher. God is a philosophy. So there should be philosophy. And everything should be there. So even when I shot each and every scene,

39:04 Even if it's an emotion, we should be like a monkey. So, we should keep everything in mind. You are a human being, you are a God, you are a monkey and you are a philosopher. So, keep all these things in mind and every shot... The director makes all the difference. Vamsi is a wonderful director. He presented my character very well. How many times does it shoot? How many days? Approximately. Do you remember? Maybe 30 days. I am asking because in these 30 days, will you be able to manage any other schedules? Because you have to be in that role, in that zone. Will you be able to shift from there? Will there be scope? No. When I came to this film and this character, there was no other way in.

40:02 There is not much scene. You understand when you become a director, you get mentally tuned. Today we are doing this character. What did we do before? What is the flow of the scene? Flow of the movie? You have to remember everything. That is very very important for an actor. If you remember only one scene, it will not happen. Totality. Every scene is totality. If you do like this in this scene, in the climax Sometimes, they shoot the climax on the first day. They shoot the finishing scene on the first day. Then you have to imagine, I should have done this from the beginning. This is how I should design my role, flow of my performance. We have to plan this from the beginning.

40:55 This is very important for an actor. In dramas, there is a flow from the start. Here, it's not like that. Every time, there is a scene. If you shoot the 30th scene now, they will shoot the first one tomorrow. It's like this. It's going to be reversed. So, if an actor knows that exercise, it will be very easy. I told you about Anjaneya Swamy. I have done many movies after that. I didn't feel any problem. When I was doing that movie, I was in a vratam. I was in a challenge of not eating non-vegetarian food. I was careful about that.

40:55 This is very important for an actor. In dramas, there is a flow from the start. Here, it's not like that. Every time, there is a scene. If you shoot the 30th scene now, they will shoot the first one tomorrow. It's like this. It's going to be reversed. So, if an actor knows that exercise, it will be very easy. I told you about Anjaneya Swamy. I have done many movies after that. I didn't feel any problem. When I was doing that movie, I was in a vratam. I was in a challenge of not eating non-vegetarian food. I was careful about that.

41:42 Because we believe in that. Right, right. And when did this happen, sir? You have put an Anjaneya Swamy idol in your farm, right? When did that happen? And one of the tallest idols, right? Yes. It is one of its kind in the world, they say. Right. It is a monolithic Anjaneya Swamy, 32 feet in a sitting posture. You said he was sitting in a yoga mat, right? So that and one single stone. Which weighs 180 tons. I started in 2007. It took 17 years for me to build this temple. And definitely these are larger than life movies.

42:28 In the roles you played, even in the movies you did, how were the public reactions? Because you were seen as God, as God's devotee, and one day as CM. So how was the reception at that time? Do you remember any incidents? You are not telling me anything else. In Puttinthi Kera Challi, I played a brother. Your mother must have known it well. It was a big hit. When this movie came out, everyone started calling me brother. Because in that, the movie is written with brother and sister sentiment. And as you said, when we do Anjaneya Swamy Partham, we see it with devotion. When we see it, our responsibility increases. Behave yourself. It's very nice.

43:22 I mean, it's magic. Actually, cinema is a big magic. What we do, that image reaches the people in the same way. So, that is the reason I always make films where there should be a purpose. There should be a civic responsibility. That's why I mostly direct and write patriotic films. You are the producer and director of this movie. You are also introducing your daughter in Telugu. How is it sir? How is life going on for the last 10 days? I started being a producer, director and actor in 1989. So, directing my daughter is my second film. I directed a Kannada film. It's nice. More responsibility right?

44:16 Being a director means, it will just start with the daughter. We will start with the daughter's film. Then it's about cinema. We are doing it for the public. That responsibility becomes more. We forget this. So, I always have a fear. I think it's from the teaser. I saw it. You talked about everyone on stage except your daughter. I think I forgot. I was waiting to hear what you were going to say. But you talked about your daughter. I'm not a very good speaker. So, I forget. You've been to interviews, right? You've been to interviews, right? No, I haven't. Look at me now. I'm not very comfortable. In 160 films, you go for promotions, right? Promotions started recently. There was no promotion before. We started way back in 1984.

45:11 I started my work in a Telugu film called Gopaladu. There were no interviews then. Only print media. I used to sit with them and ask questions. That's it. That's how promotion was. Now, wherever I go, there are cameras. What do they think? I have to give the same answer to everyone. Actually... I have to say it differently. It's challenging. You have to ask the same question and give different answers. I don't know how to give the answer. That's a talent. We don't have that talent. Do you remember anything from that time when promotions were shifting slowly?

45:47 You have to do it. Some people do promotions naturally. Like going to colleges and all. So how did you see that shift? Do you remember any incidents? Nothing. This started when digital started. I mean, if you ask my producers, they will tell about me. He is a fussy fellow. He will come here and there. My producers will tell. But when it comes to cinema, we should come. Now it has changed. It's a part of... Your job. Absolutely. And I recently watched a video of yours. It's been a year since your daughter's wedding. In a foreign country. You were very cute, emotional. That surprise, right? Her birthday. It's not... It's an engagement. Okay. Birthday... He proposed. She didn't know, right? It was her birthday. So, in Italy. Right. We know that the boy will come from the US. Okay. The boy is an American boy.

46:48 So, from there, he had a plan to propose there. We all know that, but my daughter doesn't. So, we all went there for the birthday. We went to Italy. So, surprisingly, our son came there. So he proposed to me and asked me to marry him. Very cute. You will see how cute it was in the video. You will record it with your phone and go around. Yes, it was a good moment. So I wanted to capture it. Superb, man. And coming to the current efforts. Present movie, Seetha Payanam. If we talk about that... We've been listening to different stories. Like how it started, how it landed, where it landed. I saw the teaser. Two days back, one song came out. And yesterday, I was talking to him. He was busy with censoring. He was late because he was the only one. I went to meet him to make sure he wouldn't be late.

46:48 So, from there, he had a plan to propose there. We all know that, but my daughter doesn't. So, we all went there for the birthday. We went to Italy. So, surprisingly, our son came there. So he proposed to me and asked me to marry him. Very cute. You will see how cute it was in the video. You will record it with your phone and go around. Yes, it was a good moment. So I wanted to capture it. Superb, man. And coming to the current efforts. Present movie, Seetha Payanam. If we talk about that... We've been listening to different stories. Like how it started, how it landed, where it landed. I saw the teaser. Two days back, one song came out. And yesterday, I was talking to him. He was busy with censoring. He was late because he was the only one. I went to meet him to make sure he wouldn't be late.

47:49 As a director, I wanted to meet the officer. I heard one, actually. I can't talk. I'll cut it if you don't want to. About... I heard you were the one who added background music to this. No, music... Who told you that? I heard it, sir. Who told you that? I heard another one. I'll request that too. I heard you sing well in the song. Sing a song for us. Not that many. Not that many scenes. Your daughter told me actually. My daughter is like that. She wants to pull my leg. She will come in an interview and say that my father sings very well. Everyone will ask me to sing. I am very interested in music. I can even play. I heard that actually. I learnt it myself. I don't have a master. So I played all the Aparasrutis.

48:35 I practiced at a level where my wife would be totally upset with me. So, in this film... Who told you that I made music? Leave it, sir. Why are you standing in front of the camera? Okay, I mean... If I leave that aside, music will be like... Now, four songs have already been released. People are loving the songs. So, does it match the budget you were expecting and the budget that is coming? What's happening internally? The director dominated and made me sit on the producer's chair. He made me sit and spent a lot of money. How much escalation did you see? Approximately how much? Now, it's 100 rupees. My budget is 100 rupees. He increased it to 150 rupees. The shoot portion is over, right?

48:35 I practiced at a level where my wife would be totally upset with me. So, in this film... Who told you that I made music? Leave it, sir. Why are you standing in front of the camera? Okay, I mean... If I leave that aside, music will be like... Now, four songs have already been released. People are loving the songs. So, does it match the budget you were expecting and the budget that is coming? What's happening internally? The director dominated and made me sit on the producer's chair. He made me sit and spent a lot of money. How much escalation did you see? Approximately how much? Now, it's 100 rupees. My budget is 100 rupees. He increased it to 150 rupees. The shoot portion is over, right?

49:33 First copy is ready. Copy is ready. Tomorrow I can release it. I have some actors with me. They came yesterday and released the movie 3 days ago. So, they are asking. As we speak now, I am doing dubbing in a place. I didn't like the voice. So, voice dubbing is happening in Bangalore. Nice. So, can we talk about the movie? What is the background of the movie? Seetha Aapayanam is total positivity. It's one of my best written script so far. So, values of relationship. We are all moving in a fast-paced life. So we miss the family intimacies. Very true. Values of relationship. Even if they are close, we don't know. So, all these are discussed in the film. Sita Payanam.

49:33 First copy is ready. Copy is ready. Tomorrow I can release it. I have some actors with me. They came yesterday and released the movie 3 days ago. So, they are asking. As we speak now, I am doing dubbing in a place. I didn't like the voice. So, voice dubbing is happening in Bangalore. Nice. So, can we talk about the movie? What is the background of the movie? Seetha Aapayanam is total positivity. It's one of my best written script so far. So, values of relationship. We are all moving in a fast-paced life. So we miss the family intimacies. Very true. Values of relationship. Even if they are close, we don't know. So, all these are discussed in the film. Sita Payanam.

50:32 And gratitude. How much gratitude is important? I go, thanks, and gratitude. And we have told in a very different format. I'm very, very proud of the screenplay of this picture. Amazing. But, so that way, I'm very, very happy. And this will be a presentation for my daughter. Yes, Mumbai. Nice. The cast is also from Kovai Sarla. There are three people from Telugu. Yes, Prakash Raj, Sathya Raj, and I am a candidate. And Dhruva Sarja. He is our guy. He is a very good... And I have got a technical team. Superb team. Sai Madhavapura, the dialogue writer.

51:30 And Chandra Bose came. He came recently. Yes, Chandra Bose, Kasar Lasham. Music Anupur Bans. So, good team I have. And in this movie, when you come to the lead actors, your daughter is the son of Upendra's brother, right? Yes. And Upendra sir was once your writer. I mean, he was introduced to your movie as a writer. Will you tell us about that on stage? No, no. I think it was 1985. Then... I have already told this to you. When someone asked me to write a dialogue for my film, someone referred me. The new face was Upendra. Upendra's elder brother is the hero in my film. Niranjan. Even if I make a film for my daughter,

52:30 The hero character elevation is superb. It is equally or more than the heroine. Even though their age is young, The character elevations are superb. There are so many shades in the character. There are so many different expressions in the characters. I have a doubt regarding the shoot. When you are doing it in multi-language, do you record multiple times for lip-sync? How does it work? Earlier, I used to do it in 3 languages. In 3 languages, every shot we used to... Exactly. Now, we will shoot the close-ups in other languages. Because lip-syncing is a big deal. Got it. Yeah. So, people won't get related. There will be a mismatch. There will be a mismatch. So, that we will take care now.