His father’s son

Talking about Racha,Charan says that he decided to do the film after he heard its story. “I got excited as the role is that of an underdog. What also caught my interest was that the film has romance,drama as well as action,” he says.

Known for doing his own stunts and not using a body-double,the young actor smiles and says,“Yes,I mostly do my own stunts because I believe in authenticity. I know that it is too much of a risk but I love adventures.” His favourite stunts are mainly the ones on vehicles and horses and “whatever the director wants”. However,he clarifies that he follows the instructions of the filmmaker while performing stunts. “It involves a lot of fitness. There are also several do’s and dont’s that need to be taken care of,” he states.

Charan,who began his career in 2007 with Chirutha,says that more than the fact that he comes from a filmi background,it was his love for cinema that propelled him to take up acting as a career. “I have two sisters who were never interested in films. The atmosphere at home was a non-filmi one. We were never exposed to cinema till much later in life. But I would still sneak in and watch some films. However the influence was always there,” he lets us know. “But it was not easy being Chiranjeevi’s son. I did not have the kind of freedom that most of my friends had. Even as a child I was never rebellious. I had to be very composed,I was a very different child. But I am glad that it was that way. Now it has helped me shape up as a good person,” he states.

Though his superstar father Chiranjeevi has given several superhits in his career spanning almost three decades,Charan’s favourite film is Khaidi that released in 1983. He reasons that it was the first time he got to see an Indian film that was based on the lines of Hollywood’s Rambo and so he enjoyed it immensely. “My father has not done a film in the last three years as he is busy with his political career,” he says.

Coming back to Chirutha,Charan says that it was directed by Puri Jagannadh,whose Bbuddah Hoga Terra Baap was released recently. “Puri is a fine director. No actor has ever refused to work with him. In fact,an actor can give his best when working with him. I never felt I was working with him,it was like a holiday.”

Charan’s next was Magadheera in 2009,which was apparently the highest-grossing Telugu film till then. “In fact,it comes second to Robot,” states the youngster,adding that he was lucky to have got to do this film “as I got the experience of 50 films so early in my career. Magadheera was like an acting school in terms of challenge and it was just my second film. It was a complete package and every moment of that film is etched in my mind,” he says. The movie is still running at certain places in Andhra Pradesh as well in Malayalam and Tamil languages in which it has been dubbed.

Charan was next seen with Genelia D’Souza in Orange. He says it was a great opportunity as it was a transition for him from an action hero to a loverboy. However,he has no qualms stating that Orange has done well “only because of its beautiful songs. Otherwise,even I would not want to watch that film,” rues that actor,who has done advertisements with the likes of Deepika Padukone and cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni for Pepsi. “It is good to do some ads in between films. They are very interesting and I love to do them,” he smiles,adding that he is now the brand ambassador for Docomo,which has never had a celebrity endorsing it till date in Andhra. His latest endorsement is with Airtel.

Like his father,Charan too is known for his philanthropic endeavours. He is involved in providing scholarships to schoolchildren and providing financial aid to the needy. He has also been involved in his father’s Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust that has a blood bank in Andhra. “We provide 65,000 units of blood every year and the rate of deaths has come down to 35 per cent now. People come on their own to donate blood,the value addition being that they get to take a picture with me. Earlier,it was with my father! And why not,for a good deed?” he laughs.

The actor,who begins work on V.V. Vinayak’s untitled film in August,is also keen to act in Hindi films. “Talks are on,” he says,stating that Rajkumar Hirani is his all-time favourite director.

namita.nivas@expressindia.com