Boyapati Srinivas has created a name for himself, right from his first film Bhadra to his last hit Sarrainodu. All his films have been blockbusters and money-spinners.
His next, Jaya Janaki Nayaka stars Sreenivas, a little known name, as the lead. Interestingly, Boyapati always worked with big stars so far, and this film’s business and hype seems to depend on the director.
“Whether it’s a newbie or a star, I believe in my content,” he says, adding that his films have a message. “In Simhaa I showed college students’ drug addiction and a professor setting them right. Jaya Janaki Nayaka also has a message.”
Are senior artistes like Jagapati Babu, Sarath Kumar and Vani Visw-anath there to safeguard the newcomer? “No. They’re relevant to my film. The story revolves around three families and needs big artistes to represent the families. As for Sreenivas, I know his strengths and weaknesses, and moulded him according to the role.”
Talking about his working style, he shares that he gives artistes a chance first to enact. “Before the shoot, I explain the scene to everyone on set, including junior artistes. Then I see how they understood my narration and follow it up with instructions. I have worked like this from the beginning.”
Talking about his films’ success, he says, “I treat every film as my debut film. I always have a bound script with dialogues. I work ahead of the film’s shoot with the lead actor for two months to ensure the character is embedded in his mind. Naturally, he is mentally prepared for the first day of shoot,” he says, adding that every film needs a budget. “I always keep the producer in mind and have been able to do good business with my films. So budget is not a problem as it is easily recovered,” he says.
On the two other films that are also releasing on the same day as his movie, Boyapati says, “We announced the date long ago. My films usually release in around 800 screens. This time, it may reduce to 700, but it is a good number. So I am not under pressure,” he says, confidently.
About his future projects, Boyapati says that he has kept a story ready for Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna and Mahesh Babu. “My story for Chiranjeevi is ready and whenever he wants to start, I will, but he is presently busy with Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy. I also have a story ready for Mahesh Babu and discussed it with him. From next June, I will be working with Balakrishna on a new film,” he says, adding that he is developing a good subject for Akhil too. “Akhil is a friend and we meet regularly. I narrated the plot to him, but still have to develop it,” he says.
