In a significant addition to Telugu cinema, ‘Saindhav’, a Telugu action entertainer set to release on January 13, marks a landmark in the illustrious career of Venkatesh Daggubati as his 75th film. Promoting the film, director Sailesh Kolanu shared his inspiration drawn from action movies like ‘The Equalizer’ and ‘Taken’, expressing his admiration for the idea of senior Telugu actors led by young directors in realistic action films. ‘Saindhav’ aims to capture this very essence.
In an interview with The Hindu, Venkatesh revealed his eagerness for such film ventures. Having been swayed by iconic action films over the years, he expressed his desire to transition smoothly into story and screenplay-driven cinema that allows room for suave action sequences. Venkatesh, a veteran with 37 years in the business, is elated for ‘Saindhav’ to cross his path, emphasizing his unscripted career journey and preference for genuine engagement with each project as it arises.
Portraying Saindhav Kolanu, affectionately known as SaiKo, Venkatesh’s character is shown to be deeply attached to his wife (played by Shraddha Srinath) and daughter (portrayed by Ssara Palekar). He’s pushed into a conflitct with Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s character to protect his daughter from a health crisis. With prior knowledge of Sailesh’s commendable work in ‘HIT’ and ‘HIT 2’, Venkatesh trusted the director to deliver a compelling narrative capable of painting on a vast canvas. Once producer Venkat Boyanapalli brought Sailesh’s interesting story idea, ‘Saindhav’ began to materialize.
The collaborative dynamic between Venkatesh and Sailesh evolved amicably, resembling a friendship amongst peers rather than a senior-junior relationship. This duo focused on crafting a sleek new-age action drama avoiding hyperbolic scenes, such as the typical introductory action sequence or exaggerated stunts, aspiring instead to a film grounded in plausibility. Crafting the character of SaiKo turned into a creative “jamming session” between actor and director.
Venturing into action with ‘Narappa’, an intense adaptation of ‘Asuran’, Venkatesh reflected on the project’s digital release, swayed by pandemic circumstances but remained enthusiastic about ‘Saindhav’s action intensity. Surprising himself and the crew with his agility and vitality, he lauds the climactic sequence in ‘Saindhav’ as some of the finest work of his career, stressing the combined dedication of the entire production team.
Discussing his fitness regimen, Venkatesh stressed the importance of consistent exercise, particularly focusing on strengthening one’s legs and back which are prone to weakening with age. Venkatesh’s career is marked by diverse roles across varying genres, accented by both acclaimed and less successful films. Driven by the pursuit of quality work within the commercial scope of cinema, he cherishes the love he has received from audiences over the years.
Venkatesh also reflected on how director Sudha Kongara during ‘Guru’, and now ‘Saindhav’, had offered opportunities to evolve beyond his routine acting mannerisms. With ‘Saindhav’, the new setting and a departure from exaggerated emotions allowed a fresher portrayal of the character.
Reflecting on his journey in Telugu cinema from his child actor days in ‘Prema Nagar’ (1971) to his lead debut in ‘Kaliyuga Pandavulu’ (1986), he discussed the initial struggle to fit the mold of 80s Telugu films and the realisation, during films like ‘Swarnakamalam’ (1988) and ‘Prema’ (1989), that natural acting worked best for him. Acting remains an impromptu talent for Venkatesh, with spontaneity being his strength especially in comedy roles, resisting repetition even upon direction.
While predominantly a part of Telugu cinema, barring Hindi films like ‘Anari’ or ‘Taqdeerwala’, Venkatesh treasures his work in his native language, acknowledging the occasional yearning for cross-language projects but content with his success and fulfillment in Telugu cinema.
His recent foray into web series with ‘Rana Naidu’ generated mixed reactions, especially from fans unaccustomed to seeing their hero in a grittier role. Despite initial shock from his audience, ‘Rana Naidu’ clinched a spot in Netflix’s top 400 viewed shows globally. Venkatesh shared his insights on the public’s adaptability and the difficult balance between providing content and necessary censorship, especially in the context of excessive violence.
While plans for ‘Rana Naidu’ season two are underway, Venkatesh is enthusiastic about being approached with a variety of scripts for feature films and digital series. Looking back on his career devoid of significant controversies, he values the healthy relationship he’s maintained with fans, media, and the audience. With more than three decades in an industry witnessing considerable progress, Venkatesh takes pride in Telugu cinema and the relationships he’s nurtured within it.
