'Pushpaka Vimanam' will be released in theatres on November 12. In this interview, actor Anand Deverakonda talks about working with director Damodara, Vijay Deverakonda's involvement, his choices so far, his upcoming movies, and more.
'Pushpaka Vimanam' was only one of the several titles that we considered. We went with the most positive-sounding one. Our director telephoned Singeetham Srinivasa Rao garu to borrow the title. He told him that the title doesn't belong to him and asked him to take his own call. The male protagonist of the movie is in a certain space and the title is metaphorical in nature.
Director Damodara has known Vijay (Deverakonda) for many years. They knew each other since the short film days. He became close to my father, who encouraged him to focus on his strengths. Originally, I was not to play the lead role in 'Pushpaka Vimanam'. Some of the actors who listened to the script were ambivalent, while others didn't like to play a person whose wife elopes. Dad asked me to listen to the story and asked me if I would do the film. I was apprehensive about playing a married man and a government teacher at first. A look test was done and I was finalized.
The wife elopes within a week of the wedding. There is a lot of scope for the wife's character in the story. Sunil garu, Naresh garu too have got superb roles. Geeth Saini has played my wife Meenakshi. She drives the story. She has got adequate screen space. Saanve Megghana is full of josh, unlike me. The fun is situational. The thrilling element involves Sunil garu and others. Where has the wife eloped and all is thrilling.
There is a subtle message about what is marriage all about. The humour emanates from my character's frustrations. He is a loser and is not a hero. He is only the lead man.
I did workshops before 'Pushpaka Vimanam' was taken to set. My character is a soft-spoken guy and is timid. Sunil anna has got a crucial role. He is a self-obsessed cop. He is excessively suspicious. Naresh garu is a headmaster at the school where my character works. There are superb combination scenes between Sunil anna, Naresh garu, Saanvee and me.
The central point of 'Pushpaka Vimanam' is the elopement of the wife. A lot of drama has been built around the plot point. Why she eloped is an interesting element. Films like 'Jathi Ratnalu' work even when there is no drama. It's a slapstick comedy. On the other hand, a subject like 'Pushpaka Vimanam' needs drama.
I thank the media for supporting our movie 'Middle Class Melodies' last year. It was a direct OTT release. My film with KV Guhan sir is a road thriller. I will be seen as an auto driver in another upcoming movie. I have a film lined up with director Sai Rajesh. A film with a debutant director is also in the pipeline.
My brother is not a part of my story selection process. I choose my directors.
We are living in the social media age. No less a cricketer than Virat Kohli has been mercilessly trolled. So, I am not surprised that 'Dorasaani' resulted in so much trolling. It was a disappointment for sure. After 'Middle Class Melodies', people are liking my choices. When I accepted 'MCM', at least 10 people in the industry asked me why I was playing a tiffin centre guy. 'Dorasaani', in retrospect, was somewhere between an art film and a commercial outing. It was neither this nor that. Maybe, it should have been made like a Malayalam film or a 'Saira' (Marathi).
I believe in the institution of marriage as long as there is compatibility between the wife and husband.
