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Rediff.com  » Movies » 'Mugguru is not inspired from Golmaal'
This article was first published 12 years ago

'Mugguru is not inspired from Golmaal'

Last updated on: August 18, 2011 12:29 IST

Image: A still from Mugguru
Radhika Rajamani in Hyderabad
After a super successful debut in Sekhar Kammula's Happy Days, Rahul's second film Rainbow, directed by V N Aditya, met with a tepid response. Now Rahul comes back after three years with Telugu film Mugguru, starring Navdeep, Srinivas Avasarala, Shraddha Das, Sanjana and Sowmya.

The film is produced by Suresh Productions (Rama Naidu) and directed by Aditya. Rahul tells Radhika Rajamani what's so important about Mugguru which releases this Friday.

After your last film Rainbow, was it a conscious decision to take a break?

Yes. There are lots of factors for a film to do well -- the story, director, production house, promotion and marketing. After Rainbow, I took a decision to do a film where the story is important. Rainbow didn't get to reach many people. I used the break to improve my diction, physique and dancing.

'I was nervous about meeting Rama Naidu'

Image: A still from Mugguru
V N Aditya, who directed Rainbow, is also directing Mugguru. Was that why you signed Mugguru?

Honestly, no. When Aditya Sir wrote three roles for three boys in the age group 20-25, he found I fitted into one perfectly. As an actor I had a good relationship with him even though Rainbow didn't do well.

Do you consider yourself fortunate to work for a Suresh Production film produced by Rama Naidu?

Very fortunate. What Yash Chopra is to Hindi films, Rama Naidu is in the South. If a Suresh Production movie figures in an actor's filmography, then his career is complete. I feel lucky and worthy of being selected for his film. 

I was nervous about meeting Rama Naidu. The amount of energy he has is amazing. He would be the first to report at 6 am and the last to leave. He is so hardworking and dedicated even at his age. He is down to earth too. He was an inspiration to us. He was so aware of the script and in total command of it. 

'Mugguru has nothing to do with any Hindi film'

Image: A still from Mugguru
Is Mugguru a remake of Golmaal?

It is not a rip-off of Golmaal and has nothing to do with any Hindi film. These are just rumours. It's about the lives of three young boys -- uneducated and without any goals -- who land up in Malaysia where the story unfolds. It's a comedy and an entertainer. The three of us have equal roles.

There are three heroines in the film -- Shraddha Das, Sowmya and Sanjana. Who are you paired opposite?

I'm paired opposite Sanjana. More than the pairing, it's about the three boys. We tried to complement each other's performance rather than competing and spoiling the film.

'It was great working with Navdeep and Srinivas'

Image: A still from Mugguru

How did you get on with Navdeep and Srinivas?

I didn't know them before we met at the photo shoot. From the first minute, we hit it off. We spent about 23-25 days in Malaysia and we used to hang out together off the sets too. I shared an awesome working relationship with them. Srinivas used to guide me. He's a writer too and is like my big brother. Navdeep is chilled out. It was nice working with both of them.

How was it working with V N Aditya again?

We were in touch with each other after Rainbow. It was nice to see that he had also given his extra bit. This film is important to him too, so he was determined to come up with a good script and film.

The whole film was shot in about 40 days in two schedules with just about a week to 10 days break in between. We shot in Malaysia for about 23-25 days, about 10 days in Visakhapatnam and the rest in Karamchedu village and in Hyderabad.

Are you nervous about the release?

I am excited more than nervous. Srinivas and others have seen the film. I haven't since I was shooting for the Tamil film Uyir Mozhi directed by Manuv Raja and produced by Media One.