Nikhil: Why lobby for Oscars when we have our own National Awards and Filmfare -Exclusive | Hindi Movie News
Congratulations on the success of Karthikeya 2. Honestly, it took you 8 years to make part two. Will you make your fans wait another 8 years for season three?
I don’t think people will let us do that. We never thought of the first Karthikeya as a franchise kick-off, we always thought it would be an indie. But I’ve attended any event, or whenever I’ve been in an interaction with the media, or in the comments section of every Instagram post, people would keep asking me, ‘When’s Kartikeya 2 debut? I’m tired of explaining that Karthikeya is an indie film, why are we talking about season 2? But then the director of the movie, Chandoo Mondeti, said that we will only do the second if we get a script as good as the first, because we should never spoil a good movie. . And then we came up with this idea, when we were in Colombo and we went to Sitadevi Mandir. There and then, Chandoo said that I had the Karthikeya story 2. I asked him to narrate it and on the way back he told the story. That’s how the second part happened. But I think now, since so many people want to see it, Chandoo has come up with another idea and he just told me a few days ago that Karthikeya 3 is going to happen very soon. I don’t know about the fans, my mom wouldn’t spare me if we didn’t do season three.
RRR has broken many records and barriers of Indian cinema. Are you surprised it wasn’t chosen as India’s official entry to the Oscars?
I have a very strong opinion on this. I just read an article that to campaign for the Oscars, previously Studios spent 5 million USD, now the starting price is 15-20 million USD, just to campaign to get votes for your movie. What is score? We have our own National Awards, we have our own Filmfare Awards and lots of awards given by our Government of India. The best rewards and prizes that RRR can get is the box office and public popularity. It was a great movie. The Kashmir Records is a great movie and they have been gifted with the love they have received. Those two movies really touched me and for me personally, if you get an Oscar, that’s fine, but that’s not the be-all and end-all. Not every movie is made for an Oscar. It’s not a certificate, I don’t think we need that.
If you could have one super power, what would it be?
To be able to know who a person really is, to be able to judge them and read their minds. If you know who that person really is, I can spot the next Rajamouli SS, I can spot the next big scenario. I wish I had the strength to study who people really are.
What is the greatest power of the following stars:
Shah Rukh Khan
His charm.
Vijay Sethupathy
Pure Talent, Raw Talent.
R Madhavan
My love.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu
A great strong man. Because of the way she came up from zero, to become such a big superstar, she is very strong.
Rashmika Mandanna
What matters in India right now.
Which movie do you think is the most underrated?
The movie that could become a huge hit, but failed to reach its potential was the movie ‘Keshava’. I got sick midway through, I got dengue fever and I couldn’t focus on the movie too much. But it could easily become a huge hit.
Who do you think is the best entertainer of all time?
Amitabh Bachchan, I love him in Sholay. He made me cry as a kid, and then Bombay To Goa, I laughed and enjoyed. He is the brand ambassador of Indian Cinema.
Have you ever had a crush on your co-star?
Not my co-star, but someone else’s co-star. I really like Bhumika Chawla, because she is “wow”, one of the most beautiful women then and even now.
Not too many people know that you are married and your other half is not from the industry…
Yes, Pallavi is a doctor, she is practicing online. She helps people get treatment online. I met her at a friends birthday party and it just happened. I am very happy to be married. I think I am also becoming a better actor, I can act better because I have a lot of mental support back home through Pallavi.
Is it easier to marry someone who is not in the same industry?
Honestly, it’s easiest to fall in love with someone in the same industry, because working together she’ll get to know you and all that. But, somewhere I think when I met Pallavi, I felt she was the right person. I’m not ready for marriage, I just want to continue acting. I partyed my way my whole life, then I met her and everything changed.
Commercial success or artistic pleasure? What would you choose and why?
Everyone wants both, but I think commercial success will make you more satisfied. With the numbers going up, the budget for the next movie goes up and you can make a better movie, so the commercial success will be much higher.
Are you ready to make Hindi movies?
I get a lot of calls from manufacturers in Mumbai and I really respect that. I’ve met them but I haven’t signed anything yet. The next two movies that I’m going to be working on will be collaborating with some really big producers in Hindi. They will support the Hindi version of the film.
Who is the director on your team list that you would like to work with?
SS Rajamouli. I wish that someone would appear in his dreams and tell him to cast Nikhil now, but I know it’s impossible, as he is very busy for the next few years and every actor All over the world want to work with him. So is Rajkumar Hirani. I enjoyed working with him because I love his genre of films. 3 Idiots is a movie that changed my view of education and it is a meaningful and entertaining movie.
One thing you would like to change about the film industry?
I really want to change many things in the industry, but I can’t afford it. The culture of auditioning for a specific role is essential, because there are so many talents, directors, actors, that’s how I got through. I auditioned and was shortlisted among 1.2 thousand people. I think the opportunity must be given to everyone.
