Controversies don't affect me: Naga Chaitanya

Hyderabad: He is down-to-earth, straight shooting, charismatic and much more. In a candid chat, actor Naga Chaitanya reveals a lot about his career and his passion

All about Dhada:

Dhada is a slick action movie with a great pace. I play a college graduate who is just done with engineering in the US and is all set to get back to Hyderabad in 10 days time. But something happens in those 10 days that messes up his life, how he solves the problem and gets back home forms the crux of the story. There is a romantic angle to it also with Kajal Aggarwal playing my love interest.

Complete action buff:

So far I have mostly played soft characters but I personally enjoy action. I had a good time shooting for Dhada as there were a lot of stunts involved where I was thrown around quite a bit. I find action quite exciting. We rehearsed the stunts in Thailand and it was great working with the technicians.

The road to stardom:

Till I was about 19, I never thought that I would become an actor. But after I completed B. Com, my father spoke to me and said that we needed to carry on the family legacy. I thought to myself and gave acting a shot. I then enrolled myself in an acting school to learn the tricks of the trade. Now, I am the third generation of actors in my family.

Diffusing the pressure bomb:

There was pressure right from the word go. The fan base that my family has is really huge and one has to be talented to carry the legacy forward and survive the pressure. Everyone around is so talented that you can't just end up being mediocre. I can't just shake a leg and say that is it. The only advantage that star sons and daughters get is an easy start but after four to five films, people will start judging you. Talent is what sees you through.

State of mind:

I am happy with the way my career has shaped up so far. I have been getting good offers from different filmmakers though I haven't done any films yet with my family. Next year I hope to do one film with them.

No expectations from second film:

The failure of my first film had set low expectations for the second one. It did not live up to the expectations for various reasons, which in a way worked in my favour as the second film did comparatively better. Though I did get appreciated for my action sequences and my performance in the first one.

Playing it safe:

I wanted to try something different for my debut film but I guess one should stick to conventions and not take a risk with the first few films. For debut films, it is better to stick to commercial films and play safe.

Script Matters:

I look at a script from the audience's point of view. First and foremost the story has to be convincing. People should not be confused when they walk out of the theatre. The audience is ready for anything, you just need to hand them a convincing film. My father was around when I heard the script of my first movie Josh, now he prefers staying away.

South bound:

I want to create a solid foundation in South films, especially Telugu and Tamil. I have grown up in Chennai and am familiar with the language, people and culture. If I get to do a Bollywood film, it will be a bonus but for now, South is the way to go.

Ingredients for a hit:

I don't feel that if you spend more, you will be able to make a hit; good films can be made even with a small budget. If it is economically packaged, the film will earn the money back. Unless a good film requires money to be spent, I think it makes sense not to. But to make a good film with a small budget, a lot of planning needs to go in.

My passion:

Car racing is my passion. I love watching films on racing and even motor sports. There are people who have said that I should even do a film on racing.

Dad the disciplinarian:

Dad is someone I look up to. There is no taking away the fact that I have learnt a lot from him. He leads a disciplined life. He has been in the profession for 25 years, while I am just 4 to 5 films old.

My brother, the inquisitor:

My brother Akhil is at an age where he is very curious about things and he is always asking a lot of questions. He is a confused soul. There is no sibling rivalry, I have watched him grow up and though I am not like a big brother looking out for him, we do share a great relationship. We are more like friends.

Not going to take my shirt off:

Six packs might be the order of the day but I will not take my shirt off just for the heck of it. Only if the character demands, will I comply.

Controversy's child:

There is no course in any acting school which equips you to deal with controversies. You are directly in the line of fire from the time you enter the industry and I guess brickbats and bouquets is part of it. One just learns to deal with them. Anyway, they don't affect me at all.