Nagarjuna to set up film school
Hyderabad: He has over two decades in the film industry and more than 70 movies to his credit, but southern superstar Nagarjuna is in no mood to sit on his laurels . He is busy doing experimental cinema, plans to open a film institute down south and doesn't want to waste time by accepting Bollywood offers. 'I want to do something that can satiate my hunger for breaking the stereotype. Unlike Bollywood, Tollywood (Telugu film industry) is not experimenting with cinema. So the change has to start from somewhere; let me be the first one. Audience is same everywhere and so we have to try to break free from the regular masala movies, Nagarjuna said.
The actor-producer doesn't rule out the possibility of producing a Bollywood film if he gets the right package. But direction is a no-no for him. Nagarjuna has been dabbling in different business for the past five-six years. He is closely associated with Telugu TV channel Maa TV - he is on its board of directors. Apart from this, his restaurant N-grill is a popular dinning place in the plush Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, and he has plans to take it to other cities like Delhi and Bangalore as well.
The most ambitious project that Nagarjuna is currently focussing on is Annapurna Studios Pvt Ltd (ASPL) in Jubilee Hills that will train technicians and budding actors. 'Unfortunately, down south we don't have a film school like you have in Mumbai. So the gap has to be filled and I am looking more at the quality aspect; hence this project has come up. After all these years in the industry, I have seen there is no proper channel or guidance here if one wants to make a career in this line,' he said.
'So a person learns on the job. But this is not the right way. Hence it will be on the lines of the American film institute, New York University, and the University of Southern California. The objective of this institute is to upgrade talent for students to compete globally,' he added. According to him, this is a way of giving back to the industry that has made him what he is today and see it scale great heights in future.
News Posted: 19 February, 2011
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