Journalism of Courage
From newcomer to new prince of ‘hot’,Rana Daggubati is creating a stir in Tinseltown
Not so long ago,Rana Daggubati was just another newcomer in Bollywood. But a week after Dum Maaro Dum’s release,it is Rana aka Joki’s rugged yet suave features that everyone is talking about. On radio,outside multiplexes,in salons,and inside local trains. Especially women,who cannot stop raving about his ‘hotness’. Men reluctantly do admit that they are bowled over by his physique. “Abhishek Bachchan doesn’t have the fire in him and Pratik’s is a boyish charm; Rana was the ‘man’ in the film,” says film critic Indu Merani . “If Greek Gods existed now,they would look like Rana Daggubati,” says image consultant Chhaya Momaya. Tell the Telugu actor about the female adulation pouring in from all quarters and he modestly says. “I think I am only slightly presentable.” Sexy he was in those cargos,tees,kurtas,sunglasses and chatai chappals,which he carried off just so brilliantly in DMD .
The chiselled body,washboard abs and long locks in DMD may be earning Rana admiration now,but when he first came to movies,he was “slightly overweight”,confirms his Hyderabad-based fitness trainer Kunal Gir. “Rana,however,is very determined to do what he is told. He likes to look muscular,so he works out a lot and eats a low-carb diet,” confirms Gir. While Bollywood is busy serenading chocolate boys like Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan,it is the action hero image that is desperately seeking takers. Rana didn’t quite measure up to a simmering action hero in DMD but the potential is there for all to see. “Rana cuts the clutter and fits into this space,” feels Merani. Model-actor-producer Sushma Reddy feels that there are very few South Indian heroes,who have a pan-India appeal. “He isn’t just good looking but also smart to have accepted the role of Joki in his debut Bollywood film.”
Rana’s macho yet urbane looks were a talking point on the sets of DMD too,when they initially started to shoot. The film’s stylist Falguni Thakore took inspiration from his earthy looks to add her own touch to his wardrobe in the film. “Minimalism was key. We did not want to accessorise too much because even the most basic clothes suited his fantastic physique,” says Thakore,who added only a wooden Rosary and wooden earrings as accessories. Rana,easily slipped into this natural and easy look,which in fact helped him “pay more attention” to his dialogues and scenes,he admits. Besides the looks,it is the warmth and sensibility he exudes,that makes him ‘sexy’ feels Momaya. “Gone are the days of larger than life romantic heroes,it is the in-your-face variety that is more appealing.”
The actor,made his debut in films with a Telugu film Leader ,which made him a star overnight. The film established his credentials in the Telugu film industry,but his good looks didn’t rake in much attention then. “If you see the posters of both my films– Leader and DMD,I look completely different,” smiles the suave actor,who was happy to have bagged this unconventional role. Director Rohan Sippy too was impressed by his looks,personality and presence,when they first met and he wanted to build on this through the film. “There are few actors who will fit into an ensemble and not bring an image with them. I would not have been able to make the film as true to the character if there was a star as such,” explains Sippy.
For all the flattery that’s pouring in for his sex appeal,his acting abilities did not quite get the thumbs up. “If I am being appreciated for DMD,then it has to be for the character I play and not for the person who I am in reality. So there is no question of people just appreciating my good looks,” he says defensively. Rana’s self-confidence is on a high post DMD,but that’s only obvious. The young actor’s name is currently on top of the casting list of production houses. “From a producer’s point of view,I can assure you that he is the most talked about actor right now,” states Reddy. Merani too feels it is early days to judge him one way or the other. “The role written for him wasn’t really etched out well. He is a charismatic actor and deserves a second chance.”
