Itllu Arjuna marks the silver screen debut of Aniesh. It is also the maiden production venture of Chalo and Bheeshma director Venky Kudumula under his banner, What Next Entertainments. Directed by debutant Mahesh Uppala, the film features Anaswara Rajan as the female lead, while Thaman has composed the music. King Nagarjuna is presenting the film. Ahead of its release, Aniesh interacted with the media. Here’s the transcript.
What made you choose Itllu Arjuna as your debut?
I was impressed by the fact that the movie revolves around the love story of a speech-impaired person. The way the narrative unfolds, the love track between the lead pair, the action, and the emotional moments all feel organic. There are many interesting scenes, and the way a speech-impaired person deals with certain situations really excited me.
What kind of homework did you do for the role?
We conducted workshops for about six months. The director had complete clarity about the body language, reactions, and expressions. We also used sign language, but made sure that audiences could understand it. We rehearsed many scenes, which made our work easier.
Big stars like NTR and Ram Charan promoted the film. How responsible do you feel now?
I still can’t believe what has happened. I am extremely happy about their support. I believe they supported us because they liked our concept and content. Their support has also increased my responsibility. However, we believe in our content. Our film will entertain audiences and offer them a good experience.
What challenges did you face while playing the role of a speech-impaired person?
Reacting in a few scenes was challenging. Generally, when someone talks to us, we respond through words. But that wasn’t possible here. I had to convey everything through expressions. It wasn’t an easy task. Dancing without lip-syncing to the lyrics was also difficult.
Did Nagarjuna garu come forward to present the film only after watching it?
Yes. Nagarjuna garu watched our film and liked it very much. His association with our project gave us even more joy.
Though many films are releasing this week, audiences seem more excited about your film. How does it feel?
It gives me immense happiness to see audiences excited about our film. As a debutant, I am even happier. Many people have extended their support throughout this journey, and I thank them all.