As a hero he reached to the pinnacles long back, now he is also revived his father's prestigious banner Annapoorna Studios and becoming one of the most successful producers in Tollywood. If there were an industry of cool, Nag would surely be the CEO, wrote a newspaper about him recently. On the occasion of his new film Super's release, he spoke at length about his career spanning two decades and his personal life. Excerpts from a long chitchat with the style icon.

When did you feel that you have arrived?

Definitely after Geetanjali. Though I had hits before that like Majnu and Collector Gaari Abbayi, it is Geetanjali that brought me new fans and I came out from my father�s shadow with that. And Shiva firmed up my position.

You have achieved stardom very fast. Did you ever feel that the stardom encroached your privacy?

Being a star it has disadvantages too. But when you weigh advantages with disadvantages, this lack of privacy is a petty thing. You have to sacrifice such things for it. As far as I am concerned, I can enjoy like any person in Hyderabad. I do go to movies in Prasads like you people do and visit friends� homes without any fuss here.

What are the other disadvantages being a star?

You will always be in the public eye when you are star. Every step is closely being watched. When you make a mistake, the media will rip you off. So one has to take care not to err and make mistakes. But again, as I said, being a star is great feeling. All these sacrifices are the price that you have to pay for being the star.

Any depressed moments?

No. I too went through spate of flops in my career at one time particularly after Shiva but I never felt depressed. Failures have made me realize how bad films that I had done and learnt from the mistakes.

Which are the best films you feel in your career?

My all time favorite is Shiva � for everything. And for Annamayya because I liked the film as an audience more than anything else.

In your career spanning two decades there were also very bad films. In retrospect, which do you rate the worst films that you have done?

Yes there are many bad films but I dont want to name them. I always wonder people still like me even after the duds that I have delivered, especially when I think of some of the bad movies I have done, I feel I am blessed one to stay for this long. Sometimes my kids say watching those films,



You are the only star who strictly not works on Sundays. What is the reason behind this decision?

I believe acting is not the be all and end all of life. I have a life apart from the movies. Thats why I take Sundays off.  After my shoot finishes, I immediately head off to my home and enjoy quality time with my family. I also go to Maldives regularly for scuba diving.

What is the secret behind your fitness?

I lead a healthy life. I have been swimming regularly and also practicing yoga these days. Speaking of swimming and scuba diving, it was during my honeymoon in Hawaii that Amala and I signed up for the introductory course of scuba diving there. We were hooked and returned the next day for the beginners' course and the next year for the advanced course. Since then I every year we head for there and do scuba diving. And I regularly do swimming to keep my body fit. Yoga has changed my life recently. It has brought in lot of healthy changes in me.

It seems you have become mellowed over the years!

I have always been gentle and calm person. But I have matured over the years. As the age grow, you tend to look everything right perspective. And you handle the situations maturely. Probably that is the reason behind my recent successes as producer, I have of late been handling maturely with the buyers, technicians and et al. I know what I want and how to handle it smoothly.

There is also talk that you hardly take risks for films?

That is misconception. I am hardworking actor like any other top star. I hard work till the shoot ends for the day. Unlike others, I don�t involve much after the shoot finishes. Probably my calm nature makes people believe I am very cool and thanda about everything.


Who are your favorite actors?

Amitabh Bacchan and Sridevi.