'7 Days 6 Nights' is slated to hit the cinemas on June 24. The rom-com stars Sumanth Ashwin, Meher Chahal, Rohan and Krithika Shetty in lead roles.
In this interview, catch Rohan talk about the film, working experience with Sumanth and director MS Raju, his future plans, and more.
My parents hail from Guntur. My father is a pilot in Air Force, owing to which I have got to live in several places across India since childhood. That way, I am a pan-India child!
I studied in Hyderabad and moved to France when I got a scholarship to pursue MS in Mechanical Engineering and Robotics. I have always been passionate about acting. Since I have no film background, I always had my doubts as to whether I would land offers in the film industry. I got myself associated with theatre while in France. I trained as an actor. That's when I really fell in love with acting. After completing the Theatre course, I told my parents about my interest to join a film school in Europe.
While I was at the film school, I did a showreel to showcase my acting skills. I used to give auditions here in Hyderabad. I used to show prospective filmmakers and producers my showreel, which somehow Sunil garu got hold of. He showed it to MS Raju garu. At that time, Raju garu was planning '7 Days 6 Nights', for which he was looking at casting new talents. He felt that a character suits me the best. I jumped with joy when the offer came my way. I was selected after I gave two auditions.
Mangalam is the name of my character in the film. He is someone we would find among our friends, someone who gets pally with girls without inhibitions. They don't think twice before initiating something in life. Mangalam goes on a bachelor's trip with his friend Anand. What happens during that trip is the crux of the story.
I have watched the film already. I can say that nowhere does it make you feel uncomfortable. You can happily watch it with your friends and family. Nowhere is the content cheap. And this film has no similarities with the Hollywood movie '6 Days 7 Nights'.
I grew up watching MS Raju garu's movies. Bagging his film is a big thing. He gave blockbusters in the past. I was nervous on the first day of the shoot. He encouraged me by telling me he had roped me in because he knows my potential. I focused on my acting and everything was sorted by the second day.
I was a bit nervous on meeting Sumanth Ashwin for the first time. He is an established actor. He is such a down-to-earth person. He never shows airs because he is MS Raju garu's son.
I have played a comedic role in the movie. Comedy is not easy at all. But since the director believed that I can pull it off after I auditioned for the role, I went along. His confidence was everything.
This is a new-age movie that the youth are going to surely like. As an actor, I totally enjoyed playing Mangalam. He speaks in Telangana slang. I am a reserved person in real life. Mangalam is an extrovertive person. That's why it was a bit of a challenge to play the role.
When the director first told me I would have to mouth my lines in the Telangana slang, I said ok while being nervous. I have some friends from Telangana. I started consciously interacting with them and practiced my lines thoroughly.
It was fun working with the two actresses. They are very friendly. I am paired opposite Krithika Shetty. Meher Chahal is the other heroine. For both, this is their first movie. There are a few message scenes in the movie but I can't divulge much. But they are not preachy.
I am in talks with a couple of movies. MS Raju garu has been my mentor. I am open to playing all types of roles, not just lead roles.
