'I'm A Pretty Funny Guy In Real Life'

'I wanted to make an out-and-out entertainer, a film where people could come into the theatre, laugh, have fun, and walk out feeling entertained. That was my thought when I took up Korean Kanakaraju.'

Varun Tej's August release Korean Kanakaraju has released to a positive response and the actor is thrilled.

The Telugu horror comedy is getting good reviews, as well as shout-outs from stars.

"More than celebrating," Varun tells Subhash K Jha, "I think I am at peace now. It feels good to finally breathe, enjoy this moment for a bit, and then move on to what's next."

Your film Korean Kanakaraju is a hit. How are you celebrating?

The last few months leading up to the release have been chaotic -- getting the product out, making sure the film was going in the right direction, and then the promotions.

I was spending very little time at home, especially with my kid. Now, finally, the movie is out, people have embraced the film, and I'm really happy with the way things are going.

More than celebrating, I think I am at peace now. It feels good to finally breathe, enjoy this moment for a bit, and then move on to what's next.

'I wanted to make an out-and-out entertainer'

You had some box office setbacks before this. Did that demoralise you?

I wouldn't say I was demoralised, but there's definitely a little hit to your confidence when the films you do don't work out the way you planned.

I'm someone who goes into introspection. I try to understand what went wrong, what I could have done better, and how I can take those learnings into my next film without repeating the same mistakes.

Was it a conscious decision to go into comic territory? How did the Korean element enter the narrative?

Yes. Like I said, there was a lot of introspection. I also took feedback from people around me.

I realised that my last few outings had been quite serious, both in terms of the films and my characterisations. I understood that it's important to know what your audience enjoys.

At the end of the day, people come to the theatre to leave their problems behind for a few hours and have a good time.

That was my thought when I took up Korean Kanakaraju.

I wanted to make an out-and-out entertainer, a film where people could come into the theatre, laugh, have fun, and walk out feeling entertained.

'I'm a pretty funny guy in real life'

Most actors find comic timing to be the toughest challenge. What about you?

Yes, it is a challenge. But I don't like categorising something as easy or difficult.

As an actor, I think you should be able to slip into any kind of role or emotion and make it work.

Generally, I'm a pretty funny guy in real life. I wouldn't say comedy was easy, but I had a lot of fun doing it.

There are elements of a sequel in Korean Kanakaraju. Are you keen on a follow-up film?

We don't have a sequel written yet. But while making the film, we felt these characters and the idea could really connect with the audience.

Now that people are appreciating the film and enjoying the characters, a sequel is definitely something we'd like to explore.

We do have an idea, but it's still at a very early stage. Most importantly, we want to make sure we have a genuinely good script before we go ahead. We don't want to make a sequel just to capitalise on the success of the first film.

'I have always based my remuneration on the kind of film I'm doing'

Your next project is produced by your sister Niharika Kondela. What is it like collaborating with her?

I'm really excited to collaborate with Niharika. Keeping aside the fact that she's my sister, she's one of the most passionate young producers out there. Her eye for talent and her passion for telling good stories is something that really excites me.

We have discussed films and bounced around ideas, even much before we decided to work together. We're on the same page when it comes to filmmaking.

I'm glad that we're finally collaborating, and that it's happening with Bhari.

Is it true that you are charging your market price from your sister?

From the early stages of my career, I have always based my remuneration on the kind of film I'm doing and the scale of the project. I understand the economics of filmmaking, and for me, the viability of the project has always been more important than taking home a big pay cheque.

I'd rather make sure enough money is being spent on making a quality film.

The same applies when I'm working with Niharika. Of course, I'm going to charge her. But ultimately, it depends on the market conditions, the viability of the project and the budget the script actually demands.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff