The ongoing drug scandal has shaken up Tollywood and shown a bad side of the film industry to the public. Though only a few people got notices from the Excise Department, the impact is big.
So, what do the younger generation of actors like Varun Tej think about it? “I don’t really know what’s going on, but I heard that many people are blaming the entire industry. This is definitely wrong as there is bad in every industry, not just here. I was heartbroken when I saw a ninth class girl messaging about this issue. While nothing has been officially proved yet, some people got notices for interrogation, so we will have to wait and see,” says Varun Tej.
When asked if the current events in Tollywood have made actors more cautious while speaking or interacting with the public, he responds, “Definitely yes, we are conscious when talking with people because now it is easy for anything to reach the public. If you search online for an actor or an actress, the information shows up immediately, so we have to take care of ourselves. We can’t be a bad example and fortunately, all my friends in the industry are quite good. There is a bad side to every industry but here, even a little thing is highlighted in a big way, because it is the film industry and all of us are in the limelight, all the time.”
The young actor will soon be seen playing an NRI doctor in the film next movie which is directed by Sekhar Kammula. “Director Sekhar has made a mark for himself and created an audience base, so there is a certain hype to the film,” says the actor. “However, it’s not like I have planned to do only concept based films,” he explains. Describing his experience of working with Sekhar Kammula, the young actor reveals, “He is a very positive person, whether it’s for a film or a social cause. I follow his Facebook page because I like his opinion on lots of things, that are currently happening in the society.”
He adds that there are no forced dances or action scenes in the film. “The film is according to Sekhar’s story and vision. Of the two action scenes, we removed one as he felt one was enough,” Varun says, adding that the workshop before the film helped the lead pair a lot.
“I did workshops for my debut film Mukunda and also for Kanche and it definitely helps in portraying the character better,” feels the actor.
Interestingly, the film was shot in a real village in Nizamabad.
“We could have made a set here in a studio, but it was more natural shooting in a real house. Even some of the local people from the village participated in our shooting,” shares Varun Tej, whose next film shoot starts in five days.
“When I did two projects simultaneously last time, I got injured and both films got delayed. I can’t blame anyone for it, so now I have decided to do one film after another,” he says.
