After Bhale Bhale Magadivoy which dealt with amnesia and Mahanubhavudu that revolved around obsessive cleanliness disorder, a few films dealt with behavioral disorders. Now, Kleptomania is in focus, with Raj Tarun playing the leadin Rajugadu that releases on June 1.
Raj Tarun is quite happy with the title. He says, “We didn’t want to go with a complicated title. The emphasis is on simplicity, I found the characterisation entertaining and different and was sure audience would love to watch it. I heard many people have this streak, especially women and celebrities. I am told some people flick strange objects; for instance my uncle has the habit of picking up wallets. I would wonder why people don’t buy it if they like something so much or need it; it is embarrassing! We should recognise it as a disorder and help people with the treatment. With the right guidance, they will come out of it. I understand this subject as my dad is a hypnotherapist.”
He reveals the plot, “This guy has had kleptomania since childhood. Everywhere he is employed, he is driven away. Finally the father gives him a job in his supermarket and keeps an eye on him. Only when he falls in love, problems arise. He gets introduced to her family which abhors thieves.”
When director Sanjana Reddy told Raj Tarun the story, he was excited as it looked tailor-made for him and he found a huge potential for entertainment in the script. He shares, “The scenes between Rajendra Prasad and me are funny.”
He adds, “It took a year and three months to begin as I was doing three projects for AK Films. ” Raj Tarun’s next film Lover, directed by Aneesh Krishna, has a crime element. He is looking forward to doing different genres though the emphasis is to entertain people, to grow and be called a good actor.
Discussing his flops, he says, “We never know, we do themhoping that it will work at the box office. If we knew in advance what ails the story we wouldn’t do it.” The actor adds, “I have learnt in the last few months is not to do two films at a time. Changing looks for films that happen simultaneously is difficult. Also one can focus on a film far better..”
Rajugadu was mostly shot in Hyderabad and a couple of songs in Krabi. A bit was shot in Dindi.
He heaps praise on his co-star Amyra Dastur and director Sanjana, “It was great to work with Amyra, we didn’t never speak to each other initially and when we discovered we both like Game Of Thrones , got along famously. She is a focused actor and never throws a tantrum. Sanjana Reddy is a first time director but in a couple of days she got into the groove and gives us a lot of liberty to actors and never gets tense, handles it smoothly. Basically she is a trouble shooter and a great multi tasker.”
