Moving ahead

I got an opportunity to work with Amitabh Bachchan. I have been in awe of him since I was a kid and being in the same frame as him was a dream. I have learnt a lot from him,and the way he still prepares for his part is amazing.

What was it like working with Sanjay Dutt who plays your senior police officer in the film?

Right from the time I saw Khalnayak,I was fascinated by Sanjay’s cool looks. When I worked with him,I realised that he’s a very charming person and doles out loads of fitness tips.

How’s Ram Gopal Varma as a director?

He’s the best when it comes to conceptualising real and gritty cinema. Everyday that I worked with him,I discovered something new about him. The way he visualises scenes and executes them is brilliant.

Did you find it awkward to shoot with 5D and 7D cameras that RGV uses to shoot his films?

Yes,at first it was awkward to have a camera strapped on your body parts like your wrist or ankle but soon you get used to them. They are very small and you can hardly feel them. But they add a whole new dimension to a scene.

How was it executing the part of a junior cop from the encounter department in the film?

Ramu sir had done a detailed research of this police drama and had chalked out the nuances of my character. But yes,I did meet up with a few cops in Mumbai and Hyderabad to get the body language right.

How would you describe your relationship with Bipasha Basu?

She’s a close friend. The fact is that my entire team from Dum Maro Dum,my first Bollywood film,are still very close to me — be it the film’s director Rohan Sippy,Abhishek Bachchan or Bipasha. I am in touch with all of them.

Have you built up a fan following in Bollywood?

Even if people here don’t recognise me as Rana Daggubati,the actor,I still manage to grab enough eyeballs because of my height and physique. I am hard to miss! So yes,people do give me a second glance!

Do you avidly watch Hindi films?

I have been watching Hindi films ever since I can remember. Zanjeer,Sholay,Munnabhai series and 3 Idiots are some of my favourites.

Is there any difference you can point out between Hindi and Telugu films?

The madness of filmmaking is the same,whether it’s in Telugu or Hindi films. The only difference is,here I get to work in different genres,something that I cannot do in Telugu films.

Will we see you shifting bag and baggage to Mumbai?

No way. Hyderabad is my home and always will be. It’s only an hour away and commuting between the two cities is very easy. But yes,I am keen to do more Hindi films.