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‘Hits and flops taught me’
Life in cinema
Constantly reinventing
Navigating through low phase
Motorsports is another passion
Fame brings responsibility
‘Hits and flops taught me’
“When I reflect on the journey, it is very fulfilling. It’s been a journey of a lot of highs and lows; some films worked; some didn’t. In the process, I learnt many wonderful lessons. The hits have taught me something, and flops have taught me even more. So I am very motivated each day and I still have the same hunger. If not for films, there’s nothing I could enjoy doing better, and I keep pushing myself each day,” he says. In his journey, Chay (as he’s fondly called) has had his share of success and failures. But he states that irrespective of the film’s result, he always tries to move on. “I wake up motivated…with the thrive to keep doing better each day, and that zest keeps pushing me to do better and challenging roles irrespective of how well my previous films did. I always look forward to telling more stories. I’m very motivated as each day goes by.”
Life in cinema
For someone who loves to be on the film sets, spending 16 years has been a rewarding experience. And for Naga Chaitanya, being in the film industry has been a grounding experience. The actor shares that the beauty of being an actor is that you get the opportunity to play and experience different characters. “As you go through these roles, the character you play also teaches you several things. You learn more about that character, and even directors are so involved into the story. They have so much to teach you through the journey of the film as their ideology, homework and vision teaches us so much as well. I’ve learned something or the other from my characters, and taken back so many things.”
His character Raju, a fisherman, from the film Thandel is a step in that direction. To understand the role better, the actor went to Srikakulam and spent time with the fishermen community. “It’s a very rooted character, who learned several things about their lives. Just observing and being around the fishermen, their struggles and happiness taught me so much.” His character Revanth in director Sekhar Kammula’s Love Story too has been a humbling experience. “Shooting for films takes us to different places, introduces new cultures and narrates the stories of the land, so it’s been very gratifying.”
Constantly reinventing
The career of an actor is challenging where he or she has to constantly reinvent and stay on top of the game. “But that’s what keeps you going isn’t it,” Chay interferes, adding that one should keep adapting in any field. “Audiences preferences are evolving, and the templates of filmmaking became dynamic. New talents are bursting onto the scene with fresh ideas, so we need to constantly reinvent because it is part of the process. It is important to stay contented, and at the same time strive for excellence so that it keeps pushing you.”
Navigating through low phase
Success and failures are part of the process, but dealing with challenges is significant. While it is very important to take time, Chay takes a breather during tough times before making his next move. He states that it is important that you develop a system within to understand how to absorb all the negativity.
“It’s significant as an actor to keep a fine filter as to what you should let in, and what not. Sometimes what was told to you may not suit your personality. So, it’s important to absorb and listen to what audiences are saying because at the end of the day, you are making a film for them. They have to resonate with my film and the character I am playing.” As an actor, Chay wanted to speak and reach out to wider audiences. And this, he says, is part of the process, and an attempt in reaching out to newer audiences with each film. “When times are low, take a breather, sit back, reboot and move forward, and you will definitely come out stronger.”
Motorsports is another passion
Talking about wider audiences, Chay has been a sports enthusiast. He loves motorsport (cars and bikes). When asked how sports complement acting, he replies that sports haven’t had any direct impact on his acting. “Growing up I was always glued to motorsports. Films, motorsport, F&B are my passions. Whenever you take time to navigate from to the other, I believe you always come back charged and rejuvenated. It’s like therapy that works well hand-in-hand. I am fortunate that I could squeeze time to pursue my other passions.” And motorsports in India is growing, and audiences are lapping up the sport. “From being a motorsports enthusiast as a kid to owning up a franchise in the sport, it brings me immense joy.”
Fame brings responsibility
Chay’s grandfather Akkineni Nageswara Rao is a legendary actor; his father Nagarjuna is a superstar. Growing up, he was surrounded by famous people all his life. So what was it like growing up and witnessing stardom up close? “Of course, witnessing stardom has taught me how much more responsible I have to be because of the kind of fan base and the unconditional love from the audience over the years. And being born in a family with this lineage and me wanting to be a film actor as such in the same line comes with a lot of responsibility.”
His family has a huge and loyal fan base, and Chay is continuing the legacy too. Ask him how he feels about the fan base that’s been so eager to support him at the box office success? “I consider myself very fortunate for having this sort of support system around me. Watching my grandfather and father up close taught me a lot as I have seen how they love and treat the fans, and how they reciprocated the love to their fans.”
This article first appeared on Filmfare
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