Like we both came out and gave our statements
like we both have immense respect for each other
I you know always look up to what she's doing
Hey tomorrow a first-generation actor comes and his son or daughter
comes and tells him I want to become an actor
Are they going to tell them no saying it's nepotism don't get into the film industry
go do something else no, right?
He's got a huge collection of
the 70s, 80s, 90s Hindi songs that he really loves
and he's very very particular on the lyrics so my Hindi is not best
so I couldn't pick up most of the stuff, so he used to sit and explain the lyrics to me
I loved those moments.
Hi everyone, this is Avinash Lohana and you're watching Pinkvilla
Today I'm in conversation with the very talented Naga Chaitanya
Hi Chaitanya,
Hi Avinash how are you?
very good, I want to tell you I don't know if you noticed
but in a month's time you complete 13 years in the business
Josh was released on September 5 2009
That's right! How does that feel?
It feels great, it's been an amazing journey
you know it's taken me through all sorts of emotions so much learning has happened
and I can't see myself anywhere else apart from where I am right now
So that's really great because I think as I've kept progressing through the years
I've just gotten more and more immersed into what I was doing
and maybe previously you know I was so unclear about
so many things but over the years this industry have taught me so much
and given me so much clarity as a person & as an actor
and yeah I just want to keep going
Sure. But correct me if I'm wrong but I read somewhere in the second year of college
you went up to your father and said listen I want to become an actor
yeah correct, somewhere around that time 2nd or 3rd year
when the bug sort of bit me you know I sort of liked something about it
I got a feel of it but
I was still very lost back then so I just expressed that interest to him
and then you know parents, my mom and dad
they said to finish college and then I went to acting school finished that whole process
And after I came back, I came back with a lot of clarity saying yes
I do want to give one film at least a shot
sure but when you say lost what was the thought you had at that time?
In college? when I told you? yeah yeah
See, I did most of my schooling and everything in Chennai
So I spent a lot of years there, when I was with mom
I was quite detached from the film industry you know
it was only me and my mom staying there and
all the shootings and everything used to happen in Hyderabad
So I never used to go to film sets and all that
so I didn't know what the world was like and I was just growing up going to school
like any other kid who wanted to be one thing every year
you know how our minds keep changing so,
Actually, it's only when I came to Hyderabad that I got clarity on what I want to do with my life
Because I started hanging out more at film sets with dad at shoot
you know with my uncle at a shoot all of them, everyone in the family is in films so
so that atmosphere started you know reflecting on my thought
and that's how the journey started
What has been your biggest learning in the last 13 years?
what, that there is still so much more to go that I mean you know
I've not even achieved like an iota of what you know
all the superstars or all the seasoned actors have done there's so much more
to achieve, so much more to learn
the thing is there's never a full stop in this profession
there's never a conclusion because trends are constantly changing
the audience is constantly changing
you know what entertains people is a different definition
every day in terms of content what kind of content so,
yeah as long as you want to be here you just need to keep hustling
Sure and you know that everything that is very very evident from the choices
that you're also making you know that you want to try something different
which is very appreciative so congratulations for that
Thank you so much.
Laal Singh Chaddha, as I said even before the interview started
I am very excited for the film,
when Aamir called you saying that I'm offering this film to you
and I knowing him, he must have insisted let me come down let me give you a full narration
you know so many things he must have discussed why would you just say yes to it so much
What was your first reaction when he offered you the film?
You know it was so- I got a call this one morning
from the casting team, saying you know they're looking out for someone to cast
in Lal Singh Chaddha for Baba's role
I was like okay fine you know maybe like they're just shopping around
seeing who's available and who wants to do it and all that
But cut to few hours later Aamir sir actually video called me
and I was shocked because i don't get a video call from you know an actor like Aamir Khan
very often and not only that, it's usually it's a few days go past and then
you know they call back and say you know are you interested
would you like to come and meet and all, no
but it wasn't like that Aamir sir immediately called 2 hours later
expressed his interest, and wanted me to hear the script that night
So I remember at 11.30 that night Advait got on a zoom call and he narrated the entire script to me
so it went on till about 1.30 am into the night to 1:32 and yeah that's when I got
I got all the energy I needed yeah of course when Aamir sir called himself
half the job was done meaning like I was sure I want to do this film because
working next to him is something I've always been looking forward to and
you learn so much as an actor working with such people
and after I heard the script, I mean that was the icing on the cake for me
what my character, how they've designed it
and even though it's a very special role it's there for about 20-30 minutes only
but my purpose is there throughout you know it sort of takes Laal's character
gives Laal's character a direction you know, gives so many aspects in the film or direction
so all these really touched me and I want to be a part of it
I also have to ask you that was it a concern that Vijay was doing the part first
did you discuss that with Aamir sir?
No, that concern was not there because we never really overlapped in any way when
Vijay sir was uh I'm not
I was only told that there were some date problems and that's why the project didn't work out with Vijay sir
but that was never really a concern because from the time I came in the character was designed
completely around the sensibilities of where I come from
Like it's a Telegu boy from Andhra, this small village called Bodipalem
from Andhra and even the diction was the Hindi has a few Telegu speaking words
here and there you know to make it look very organic
so it may be all these aspects that made me feel very comfortable
But yeah with Vijay sir, we never really overlapped anywhere and you know
there was no discussion
Aamir sir is known to share these pearls of wisdom when you sit with him
and he has this great conversation skills
any conversation with him you remember that were sitting one night chilling
and then some conversation happened and it has made an impact on you
there's so many conversations in fact in Kargil every day we used to
drive to the location and it was about 2 hours away so i
used to you know sort of sit with him in the car and we used to go together everyday
in the morning at 3.30 in the morning that's when he used to start off
at the location so, he used to eat his breakfast
drink his coffee used to play his favourite songs for me
yeah he's got a huge collection of the
70s, 80s, and 90's Hindi songs that he really loves
and he's very very particular about the lyrics so my Hindi is not the best
So I couldn't pick up most of the stuff so he used to sit and explain the lyrics
I loved those moments,
We started talking about you finishing 13 years next month
What took Naga Chaitanya 13 years to do a Hindi film?
You know a lot of people ask me this but to be honest
you know when I initially started off I invested most of my time mastering
and you know improving myself in the Telegu cinema itself because there's
so much responsibility coming from this family of fantastic actors and filmmakers
so you need to keep a certain standard and you need to you know the progress
that journey what they've created so,
It's, I'm never satisfied with what I'm doing back there so
I just want to keep doing better and better
My heart and soul and everything has always been there
but having said that I've always loved Hindi cinema
I love the kind of content they do here
they really push the boundaries and there's so much talent too
but when I wanted to come here I wanted to come with the right sort of presentation
you know I wanted probably like someone like Aamir sir to guide me
and to present me here because always the first impression is very important
the judgement is formed based on that and there's already a sea of talent here
that the audience have owned and that they worship so to
penetrate into that is a huge challenge so,
I think this was the right opportunity and it happened so organically and I'm
It's okay if even if it's 13 years later I think it's the best that happened for me
I agree.
you mentioned you come from a filmy family and I'm sure when you all come together
It's a large family and I'm sure when you come together you all must decide
we won't talk about films
but invariably somehow the conversation will come back to the cinema
will come to the films on those dinner table conversations
No, in fact maybe you know when I sit with dad and all that and have dinner
you know it's probably just 5% of the conversations because
we have such common interests also apart from films like?
like we love...
... we love food you know we just love food
we love to talk about food, we love to talk about travel,
when I was very young Dad got me into scuba diving,
he taught me scuba diving, so that's the water something we always talk about
he loves to travel so he always sort of we're always fantasising on where to go next?
and stuff like that so, we talk about a variety of things of course,
films, we do share what we're watching you know what's happening who's doing what
so that's there for a little bit but the majority is not film, and that keeps it healthy
I agree, is nepotism also a topic that you all discuss
Not really I mean
Is it as real back home as it is here?
No it's not that much back home I've just been hearing it over here but
I mean I don't see the sense to it, of course
I wouldn't not say that I'm you know
fortunate, of course, I'm fortunate to have this kind of a backing and
when I wanted to get launched into this industry it was much easier for me
than you know someone who's climbing up the ladder of course
I don't deny that but you know at the end of the day tomorrow
if my film releases and apparently mr x or y their film releases
and they are not from a film family but his film
his or her film collects 100 crores and mine collects 10
Obviously the first phone call from producers and directors are going to go to him
so end of the day, survival of the fittest you know
everyone's talented, everyone's got to hustle when we're out there playing
and hey tomorrow a first-generation actor his son comes and his son or daughter comes
and tells him I want to become an actor
are they going to tell them no, saying no it's nepotism don't
don't get into the film industry, go do something else, no right
we'll always be proud that our children are inspired by the work we've done and
they want to follow the same path so
We recently saw you at Sanjay Leela Bhansali's office also
is there anything happening there?
I mean I've been you know it's it's just casual meetings you know with
these are filmmakers we looked up to and it's just paying your respect say hi and
I hope you know something works out and there're so many people I want to work with
So many South films are being remade in Hindi, any of your film
you want to see remade in Hindi?
Oh my film here?
I don't know I mean, if
it's very specific about how actors see a film and want to remake it you know so
someone has to see it
own it and then that process has to happen but I'm happy with the way
you know the films have been made back home
sure, but no film like you think this will work wonders in Hindi
In Hindi
I know I put you on spot.
That way every film, there's no specific one
I was, when Manam released I was curious
there was a lot of talk about Manam being remade
the one me and dad and grandad did so I'm curious to see how that will play out here
that would be a nice film if someone wants to package it and do it
I want to ask you this question with a lot of respect
you recently said in an interview when your personal-life is at the forefront the media
that and not your professional life becomes a headline
it gets a little irritating and frustrating
I was just talking to you about how much there's
already there's so much pressure, you come from a film family
and then there is a pressure that your personal life is always in the limelight
In the 13 years have you managed to balance it out or it affect you
No, no of course, I've managed to balance it out, that's why I'm staying like
like this like it's that's that and this is this
I mean we have to basically draw a very clear line between the both
and not let both sort of overlap
I think as long as you can find that sanity and do that
you'll be fine and news replaces news that's what I always say
I mean tomorrow there's something else day after there's something else
So just keep focussing on what you're set here to do
what you set out to do which is entertain people with your films and that will shine
but when you constantly see you and Samantha written about it in the news
Does it affect you?
you said you know recently that she's moved on I have-
yeah I know I have always wondered like I mean like we both came out
and gave our statements, we both have immense respect for each other
I know I always look up to what she's doing and there's great respect for her so
that's about it we said what we had to do and beyond that it's just i think
I think people trying to fill up columns
there's nothing I mean I'm bored of it
I've been through 3 releases and I'm still attached with that
But I always say love is the most beautiful thing it heals
love heals love, are you open to finding love again?
I mean yeah
and love is what keeps us going, I think love is an essential part of life
just like how we breathe air we breathe oxygen
we need to love we need to receive love
and that's what keeps us healthy and positive
Are you excited for Brahmastra?
yes of course, I am of course I am
Any chances we will see you and Nagarjuna sir together again
in a film?
In a film, maybe a Hindi film because he's done a lot
Yeah you guys should put out some scripts of course, we'd love to have
I'm manifesting this,
yeah please do that yeah, yeah please do
it will be a crazy casting
But thank you so much
Like I said I'm really looking forward to laal Singh Chadha
and everything else you're doing in the future
Thank you so much thank you
Hi this is Chaitanya Akkineni if you enjoyed this video
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