'Roudram Ranam Rudhiram' will hit the cinemas on March 25. In this interview, Jr NTR and Ram Charan talk about the experience of working with Rajamouli and each other, what he thinks about the future of multi-starrers, and more.
Excerpts from Tarak's interview:
As Jakkanna said, I and Ram Charan bagged this project owing to our friendship. Playing these characters has cemented our friendship for sure.
Every day of the shoot was memorable. I learned something or the other every single day. I would have fun, too. Shooting for the interval sequence was memorable. It was shot for 60 days or so. The sequence is defining. It was shot realistically and it was not easy at all. I was excited to see how Jakkanna would handle it. That's why that phase remains the most memorable one.
I knew right from the start that Jakkanna knows how to present me and Charan. Our filmmakers have transcended calculations (such as who should get how much screen time).
I never felt that I should play Alluri instead of Komaram Bheem. The characters were properly etched to suit me and Charan. When you listen to a character, there are some things that you feel. For Bheem, my reference point was only my director. He didn't fill our heads with history. It's because the film is fiction. Rajamouli knows what he wants. He makes sure he gives an actor what he deserves, needs. As an actor, you are giving constantly what he wants, besides imagining what more can be done. I like it when there is no reference. That way your vision is not limited.
I don't think anyone else would have made a film like 'RRR'. Only Rajamouli could have made such a film. We are going to see multi-starrers and crossover movies after 'RRR'. You are going to see a lot of change.
Budget is for the producer and director to worry about. If the right story is there, actors will be open to doing multi-starrers. I want to team up with Mahesh Babu, Allu Arjun, Prabhas, Chiranjeevi garu, Bala babai, Venkatesh garu, Nagarjuna garu and others!
I and Charan have no scenes with Ajay Devgn. That's a spoiler. But we have scenes with Alia Bhatt. It was nice working with talents from other industries. While we are all actors, it helped us exchange perspectives. Films have become pan-India. It's no longer just regional cinema.
Age is just a number. My grandfather was 65 when he did duets. Age is immaterial for an actor.
Ukraine is a fascinating place. They are friendly people. They are utmost professionals. Their dancers are very talented. They are curious about what they do, the food, the culture, the warmth... I hope things get better in Ukraine.
When 'RRR' got postponed from January 7, we were greatly disappointed. We were eager to see the audience's reactions. But it got delayed.
'RRR' was in the making for four years. But the actual calendar days during which the film was in the making was hardly 2 years. Coronavirus took away time. The director has to sit down and prepare how to pull off something in the shortest possible time.
Excerpts from Ram Charan's interview:
We didn't do workshops intensively. I and Tarak spent time understanding the characters. The workshops were done by Rajamouli garu for his own analysis.
This film is not about Alluri, his childhood, his youth, etc. I had no reference to go by. I had to go by what the director told me to do.
The experience in Ukraine was great. It was a huge schedule. In no other country did we experience such warmth and comfort. We never felt that there was tension going on in the country. I have spoken to my security guard who guarded me there during the shoot. I have sent some money to him and his family. His 85-year-old father is on the street defending his country.
