'I definitely want my son Gautam to become an actor. But it will be entirely his choice. Like it was mine, no pressure.'
Birthday boy Mahesh Babu opens up about himself.
Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu turns 40 on August 9, and he says it's a good place to be in.
He tells Subhash K Jha about his memorable birthdays.
What are your birthday plans?
No plans. I'm concentrating on the release of my film, Srimathudu.
What are your earliest memories of your birthdays?
Birthdays were always family-oriented when I was growing up. Some were on the sets of my dad's films.
My most memorable birthday was when (wife) Namrata surprised me with a Mercedes.
You started your career as a child actor. How do you look back on your long career?
It's been an interesting journey from then to now. I learnt a lot along the way, and I'm still learning.
My landmark movies are Okkadu, Pokiri and Dookudu.
Since you were a child actor, did you ever feel you lost out on a normal childhood?
I had a very normal childhood. Only when I was shooting with my dad during my summer vacations was I treated specially -- with plane rides, big suites in 5-star hotels and great food.
Back home, it was back to the school bus, autos and pocket money.
Would you want your son to be an actor?
I definitely want my son Gautam to become an actor. If you ask him now, he will say he wants to be one. But he should feel the same way 10 years later.
It will be entirely his choice. Like it was mine, no pressure.
You have played the leading man for 16 years in Telugu cinema. How have you managed to stay on top for so long?
Hard work, discipline, determination and above all, being happy.
How do you view the competition?
All actors in our industry are talented. Each one of us has his own positioning.
Why have you never tried a Hindi film? Is it because superstars from the South are known not to make an impact among Hindi-speaking audiences?
Nothing like that. I would really like a good script and a good director. Unfortunately, these haven't come along so far.
Some of your best films, like Okkadu, have been remade in Hindi.
I watched the Okkadu remake (called Tevar). Though Arjun Kapoor did a great job, the script narrative could have been handled better.
What can your fans expect from your latest film Srimanthudu?
Srimanthudu is a film about family, love and values. It's a social entertainer, scripted in a commercial formula.
