Vennela Kishore is a changed man now. In a candid chat with MetroPlus , he talks of how he his only priority is survival at this point of time. Clearly his past experiences have made him introspect.
Asked why his roles aren’t as striking as they were, when audiences remembered him by the character's name and he explains frankly, “I am in a position where I cannot choose my role, or question what is my character, what’s its prominence. If someone asks for my dates, I just check if it is feasible and give them. Many people told me that since I had tried my hand at direction, no one would give me acting chances any more. But by God's grace I have been getting as many opportunities as before I got into directing a film. I might not be doing striking roles but yes I am busy. In direction, yes, I am a disaster.”
Kishore doesn’t regret getting into direction though; it’s something he had always wanted to do, but he won't do it anymore.
He was pulled into acting by Deva Katta with whom he had been working in the direction department for Vennela .
Also he was never ambitious, from being a software engineer to being a film actor, he had come a long way.
“I am very lucky and asking for little is asking for too much. Direction was always there on my mind...maybe that was not the right time or I should have given my full time. Acting is good enough for me and I can survive this harsh competition. I don't think I can reach the top but I want to stretch out my career before I get monotonous. That is all my dream.”
Ala Ela and Superstar Kidnap didn’t give his career a fillip, though his self-deprecatory humour in the latter was lapped up.
The actor avers, “There were limited theatres and it was a wrong time to release. In Superstar Kidnap I played a failed director and I told the team since I was playing my real life role I would rather go full throttle. So a lot of fun was created from my limitations. Everyone on the set began laughing and the purpose was served.”
He adds that in medium and small budget films, the characters given to him are very well etched whereas in big budget films, though he gets visibility, the scope to show his talent is limited. Now he is not averse to playing character roles too and feels that if his humour gets monotonous he might as well try different characters.
He adds, “There is huge competition. The days are gone when people call you twice for a character. If you ask them for two days to think it over, you are replaced. There are so many comedians, all talented, who are ready to work for a pittance. Except for Brahmanandam anyone can be replaced. It is about economics. It used to be about character and then remuneration but now the emphasis is on remuneration alone. The producer has a budget allotted for a comedian and he wants a person who can fit into it.”
Vennela Kishore is positive that this year he might be written about for his non-humorous role in Kshanam , and a couple of good performances in Srimanthudu and Bhale Bhale Magadivoy .
“There are some more big movies too, but I am keeping my fingers crossed," he signs off.
