As December approaches Srikant is excited as this is the time he's always waiting to pack his bags and head to distant destinations. It's South Africa this time for him. Meanwhile he's been offered an interesting role in K. Raghavendra Rao's movie Sai Baba starring Nagarjuna. The actor will be playing Das Maharaju, a favourite disciple of Sai Baba who advocates the former's teachings. “This is the first time I'm hearing of that character, but I consider myself lucky for doing such diverse roles. I'm waiting to see Sri Rama Rajyam too, I just did my dubbing and am anxiously awaiting its release. In Devaraya which is a socio-fantasy, I'm playing a king and in Sevakudu , I take a city on lease to clean it and the system just like one adopts a village.” He adds he's planning his career meticulously and will choose only those that will add value to his image.
Being busy
“Please don't write too much about me and elevate me please, I don't like publicity” pleads the lovely Bhargavi who's in focus for playing sister to Gopichand in Mogudu and a mom to one of the heroes in Nuvvila . The actor was initially in the direction department before she took up full time acting for television serials. Her first film was Atthili Satti Babu and a spate of inane roles followed but it is only now that her career is happening. Does she watch her work in Egire Pavurama, Akasa Ganga and the other serials? “Where is the time?” she questions and adds that she reaches home by 8.30 pm and by then she is tired and ready to hit the sack. “Initially when I was a regular on television some people would call my parents and inform them that I'm coming on tv, they would then exclaim ‘Oh, my daughter on tv' and would switch it on and see. But as I said there's no time for anything!”
Cat chat
Tapsee has become a walking talking encyclopedia after her visit and shoot at the Mauritius zoo for Kavali Kavali number. She waxes eloquent on the cat family, “Lions are elegant and cheetahs are restless. When you move with them you shouldn't speak loudly, there should be no quick movements. We had to sign papers before entering the area that says whatsoever happens, the people at that place can't be held responsible. I was excited and the first person to sign the paper. The Cheetahs aren't new to the camera, they've already posed for the Kingfisher advertisement.” The actor says she even spoke to the animals and touched them lovingly and compelled the director to take a solo shot of hers with the animal to keep the memory for posterity. She adds, “The moment they would say action, the 12-year-old ones would start walking away and I would tell them ‘look there at the camera, don't get scared!”
Ramanaidu's distinction
Movie moghul Ramanaidu's Punjabi movie will soon go to the sets and the time he limit he set is 40 days. With this he will become the only producer in the world to have produced movies in 13 languages. “Media people should highlight my achievement, it's a rare feat and not everyone can accomplish it. It's a matter of glory for our country too…,” he avers. After that he might take up the story narrated by Ravi Babu and Satyanand and one more with his grandson Naga Chaitanya by director Bhupati Raju in all probability could take off in January. Ask the 75-year-old producer the secret of his health, he quips, “It's my morning walk. I'm not able to walk long distances like before but I definitely walk two kilometres and do 15 minutes of Pranayama. My biggest wealth is health, take care of it and everything will follow.”
Birthday gift
“This is the sweetest birthday ever, the unit guys arranged a cake with a picture of mine on it and held a press meet for me”, gushes Niti Taylor from Mumbai. The Gujarati actor is making her debut in Mem Vayasuku Voccham , a Tanish starrer that is due for a Republic Day release. A second year BA student was spotted in a coffee shop and was offered the Docomo commercial after which she landed in Hyderabad for the first time. She says, “I have no inkling about the stars here, all I heard was that Telugu people are very hard working and put in 200 percent in whatever they do.” The 20 year old recollects the scene from her movie, “I'm getting married to someone I don't want to and I'm supposed to break down in the shower. I'm not at all good at crying, but I think I pulled it off well.”
