South Indian actor Naga Chaitanya, who made his web series debut with the Telugu-language supernatural thriller ‘Dhootha,’ claims he’s now feeling liberated. In the eight-episode series directed by Vikram K Kumar, Chaitanya plays a journalist with a murky moral compass. “Going into ‘Dhootha,’ there were a lot of questions thrown at me, like, ‘Are you sure you want to do this because it’s different from what you people are used to?’ or ‘Will you be accepted in such a role?’ … But when so many firsts in my life work, those questions are naturally answered. I feel so liberated now,” said Chaitanya in an interview with Gulf News.
Read the full story here: https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/south-indian/from-romance-to-redemption-actor-naga-chaitanya-talks-web-series-debut-dhootha-fame-fandom-and-failures-1.1702994031840
Subscribe to Gulf News on YouTube and watch more of our videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/GulfNewsTV
See more videos at https://gulfnews.com/videos
Read more Gulf News stories here: https://bit.ly/2HLJ2km
#UAEnews #indian #dhootha
Read the full story here: https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/south-indian/from-romance-to-redemption-actor-naga-chaitanya-talks-web-series-debut-dhootha-fame-fandom-and-failures-1.1702994031840
Subscribe to Gulf News on YouTube and watch more of our videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/GulfNewsTV
See more videos at https://gulfnews.com/videos
Read more Gulf News stories here: https://bit.ly/2HLJ2km
#UAEnews #indian #dhootha
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00It's really fortunate to have, you know, this kind of a base, this kind of a fan following, because it's so unconditional, the love they show, I mean, whether you're doing well, not doing well, no matter which point in life you are in, they are always there for you, rooting for you and just encouraging you with whatever you do.
00:18So, it's not because of me, it's because of my family that I've been gifted with this kind of a fan following.
00:25So, I consider myself extremely lucky to have them and I keep reminding myself, you know, that it is, I need to do this, if not for myself, at least for them, because seeing a smile on their face means a lot.
00:38Good morning, I'm in conversation with Naga Chaitanya, who makes his web series debut with Doota, which is a Telugu supernatural series. I'm hooked, I can tell you that. I'm also weirdly appalled at the on-screen character that he plays.
00:57I think it's a great creative risk that you've taken, Naga. You're not a very likable protagonist in this one, let me put it out there. You play a journalist with a very murky moral radar. So, perhaps you could tell me, like, is that what attracted you?
01:12Yeah, I think I was in a phase as an actor where I sort of wanted to come out of my comfort zone a bit. I was doing a lot of love stories, family entertainers and, you know, action films over here. I'd never played something grey before and never played a character with so many layers.
01:32So, you know, when I heard the narration, hearing Sagar's character out instantly excited me, because I thought it was a great opportunity to push myself, showcase myself differently to the audience, because they've been used to watching me in a certain kind of texture. So, to just consciously come out of that and, you know, push myself and also convince them that I could be convincing with something like this.
01:57Of course. And when you took the plunge, you really went rogue. There is no middle path for you, is there? Like, you just went completely dark on us. And that, to me, was also very, very interesting, because like you said, I've seen you in, like, playing these vanilla roles, you know, like you are the go-to guy for the guy next door. And suddenly you have somebody like, you know, the narcissist in you in that particular series. That's what fascinated me. Like, was it disturbing to play this or?
02:23It was. I look at it purely as an actor. You know, even though the role is, it starts off neutral and then Sagar's character gets dark. But what I like about it is the character arc, you know. So, there is a round off at the end. There is a reason, you know, he realizes his mistakes. There's a lot of introspection that happens to him during the course of the episodes.
02:48And then he realizes, you know, the kind of danger he's put his family in, the kind of danger he's put himself in purely because of his ethics and because of the way he's doing things. And how he realizes that and tries to correct that by the end. And also subtly throwing out, you know, a thought to the audience, something to think about by the end of the series about ethics and the way of life and all that. So, this entire character arc did excite me.
03:16Right. Nagar, like you said, there is redemption at the end. But web series now, they are exploitative. If there is a serial killer like Jeffrey Dahmer, for instance, they go very dark. There's no redemption there. It's a true life crime story. But in this case, were you very particular that there is redemption? Did you tell your director that perhaps we can't go totally dark on my fans, you know?
03:39No, no, not really, not really. Because the director had come, you know, had written it this way where all characters, if you see the eighth episode, have a beautiful round of all the plots sort of come together. That doesn't mean that's the end of the storyline, but it's the end of what at least the conflicts that were shown in the first season. So, no, my influence was not much in terms of sort of rounding it off. It was his idea by himself.
04:07Right. Do you think that we should separate the art from the artist, you know? Sometimes people often question actors on why you took a certain role when you have a certain image to think about, etc. Were you also very mindful of that, that people emulate you, etc.? As an actor, do you think you are not bogged down by it or are you?
04:25See, when I was, when I decided in my head, like when I do OTT, I want to do, I want to like completely explore myself as an artist, you know, put aside all the, all the conditioning, put aside all the expectations, how the audience looks at me as and just purely go on as an artist and really test myself and push myself because I think that's a space where audience is really open to consuming a variety of content and experimental content also.
04:54So I thought, you know, I looked at it as an opportunity. So, yeah, when, when it, when it came to OTT, I put aside everything and said, let me just go with my heart. Let me just go with what excites me, forgetting all the other variables.
05:08Right. What about the emotional toll it took on you? I remember, I think was it Nicole Kidman? She said, after a big little lies, she went home and threw a stone against the window and it broke. And she's like, she played a domestic abuse victim and survivor in that. So she had a lot of toll. What do you do? Do you just switch off? Do you go home and say, listen, Sagar Verma is a terrible human being. But having said that, you know, I need to separate. Did you have or do you take work home?
05:35Yeah, fortunately for me, I don't know. That's just my process. I'm able to separate, you know, for me, it's once we hit six and once a director calls back up, it's, it's back to normal life. Of course, certain nuances and traits will linger on with you through the course of the project. But no, I don't think Sagar's darkness sort of affected my personal space in a way. The only thing that was really challenging was that the entire thing was shot in rain.
06:02So, you know, it was, it was quite a physical challenge and that was very draining actually. So yeah, that was the only thing. But Sagar's darkness did not affect me.
06:13Okay. Yeah. Interesting. You talk about rain because I feel that's like a recurring metaphor in it, you know, about the darkness in your soul, et cetera. Like, did you, how did the director perhaps convince you, like, you know, you need to get wet. It's going to be a very, very messy and very uncomfortable, but this is worth it.
06:31No, there wasn't any convincing because we were really excited in the beginning, you know, when he narrated it to us, he said, horror, it's going to be in rain or, you know, daylight rain. It's, it's, it's got, it's such a beautiful contrast when you think about it. And the way he had written rain into the, into Doota, the rain itself was a character by itself.
06:51So honestly, both of us didn't know what we were getting into until we actually started shooting. I think by the fourth or fifth day, we were like, okay, now this is the actual challenge more than everything else. But yeah, you know, just like any other film or any other series, you go through all the hard work and when you're in it, you feel like, oh my God, how am I going to get through this? But when you watch it on screen and the audience is throwing in all the positive, you know, response and reviews, you forget about everything. It's all worth it.
07:20Of course, of course. And in the, in this series, you throw shade on journalists. You have shown how it's commodified, how revenue is more important. And the way you do, it reminds me of, they're not as dark, but yeah, mostly telling, you know, who will pay your salaries. Come on, this story is not important. Did you go through some editors? Did you like, what was your legwork like?
07:40No, it was actually, it is set up in a world of journalism. That's how the director set it up. But for me, it's not about specifically talking about the profession of journalism or anything like that. It's just a general sort of outlook on when ethics are sort of misused or the lines are blurred. The ripple effects can be huge.
08:02So I think it's something that everyone can think about from any, you know, space of life. It's just not targeted to journalism. It's just that this series, this season was written in the world of journalism, but it's not targeted to journalism in any way.
08:17Right. And also it hangs on, you know, ends on a cliffhanger note. I saw the last, I jumped to the last episode as well, just to get, there is definitely a second season coming. I feel, I mean, that's me. Is that a great thing for an actor just to know people are talking about it? There's a lot of chatter on social media, on the ending, the spoiler, my God, I was Googling it. And I was very fascinated by the theories. Are you equally like, you know, this is it, like as an actor, I can really sink my teeth into this role.
08:46Yeah, we all want a second. We're super excited. I mean, we haven't thought about it yet. Vikram's got a few ideas in hand. He's still yet to pen it down. But yeah, we're all excited and looking forward to the second as actors. And even as viewers, we've gotten the encouragement from the audience. So I don't see why we shouldn't have one.
09:08Of course. And Naga, you come from a family of actors. Do you guys go back and discuss your work? What did your dad and your mom? She's amazing. She's like my girl crush since childhood. I'll tell you that. Did she, what did she say? And what did your dad say? Perhaps your entire family, what was their input into it? Did they give you a pat on the back and say, well done, son, you have jumped to the dark side?
09:31No, see, dad has always been encouraging to try out new things. You know, he believes in that sort of ideology that you have to be unique to yourself. And the only way you can be unique to yourself is by pushing yourself, coming out of your comfort zone and trying something surprising the audience from time to time with something totally different. And that's the only way you will be relevant also as an actor if you want to be here for the long run.
09:54So, yeah, in fact, last night also I was just talking to him. He was thrilled by the whole concept because he had no idea about it. He's been watching it over the last week and he's he's he's been so encouraging and so excited. He was really appreciating every every aspect of it from the cinematography to the writing, to the acting, to the screenplay, every part of it.
10:17And your mother?
10:18Yeah, I believe she's binge watched it as as well. So, yeah, they all are sharing the same thought.
10:26All right. I love it. And there's a scene in episode four, I think, where you're in the hospital speaking to your colleague and peer whom I don't give spoilers away. And and the kind of selfishness that you displayed in that scene in most scenes, actually, during your interaction with your peer Amrita is shocking.
10:43It also shows about how men are like, you know, you kind of it is a portrait of most men out there were so and women were very self-involved these days. Did you at any point like question the motives of your character?
10:56Yeah, I'm for sure. I'm saying that's the whole point why I did it. Because because of the layers that saga's character goes through, you know, I feel in many phases in life, we go through all sorts of roller coasters.
11:10You know, there are times when we sort of derail from our path and then we realize and then it's the beauty is how we fix ourselves and come back on track.
11:19So, yes, it was saga's character gets extremely selfish at a point, but it had to be pushed to that point of selfishness and that point of grey or black or whatever you call it, to actually turn him around and bring it back.
11:33So that turnaround is the beauty in the writing. So, yeah, coming back. Yeah, that's exactly what excited me about saga.
11:43The redemption bit of it and not the depraved one, is it?
11:46No, it was going to that extreme and the redemption. It's it's the whole process that, you know, I really enjoy for me.
11:52I when I listen to a script, I look at character arcs, you know, where he starts off, what's his midpoint and what's his end point for me?
11:59These arcs, the more the arc is, the more exciting it is for me.
12:03Right. Of course. And what's your process like? Are you like one of those method actors? And do you have such a or do you just wing it?
12:11No, I don't. I don't think we can wing it. I don't think we can afford to wing it.
12:16But I'm not I'm not a method method actor per se as well. For me, it's about my director is my biggest strength, to be honest.
12:25It's about sitting with him, talking about the character, you know, understanding his thought process behind it, sort of mimic him, mimic him a bit.
12:34You know, I get them to usually say the lines, act out a few scenes for me because I believe it's in their head.
12:41This whole character, the screenplay, everything is so clear. They've been traveling with it, you know, for years and years.
12:47So if you can sort of just grab a bit of them and apply it to your body language, that itself is a huge strength.
12:54So a lot of time was spent with Vikram. Of course, spoke to a lot of journalists in the process.
12:59I did. I did a lot of reading. And yeah, these are my tools.
13:04Method acting as such. I don't know. I don't know how to do it.
13:08I ask this because you work with Amir Khan, who claims that in several interviews he said, you know what?
13:13I need to know what is going to happen every second. So I'm fascinated because when you meet people, you change, right?
13:19You evolve like I meet writers. I evolve as well. I'm sure it happens with actors like you.
13:24Did you like take a bit from his school set or his tools, you know, as we call it?
13:28Yeah, absolutely. Like he said, you know, he needs to know what's happening. It's the same with me.
13:33I think the more clarity I have on things, the better I'm able to perform and I'm approaching work with a much clearer mindset.
13:41It's only when there's doubt and when, you know, there's a little bit of confusion or question marks that it really shows on screen on your performance.
13:49So, yeah, that's something I've learned from him. Apart from that, I've learned so much more from him.
13:55It's like those six months time spent with him was like actually going to school for acting and also on being a human being.
14:03I mean, he's a lovely person.
14:05You graduated in life with honors. The movie may not have done as well as we thought, but I think you have met both success and failure.
14:13I don't know. I'm just making a deduction here that you treat both the imposters the same.
14:19I think both are equally important in life. I mean, it's not healthy to have life with only success or it's not healthy to have life with only failures.
14:29You have to taste both to actually come out of it and, you know, keep evolving.
14:34You need to have a balance of both to keep evolving because I think failures teach you so much in life that no one can teach you.
14:41It's only experiencing them and figuring out why things went wrong and coming out of them that actually makes you evolve as a person.
14:49So, yeah, it's I'm happy. I have no complaints about whatever I've gone through.
14:54I've enjoyed all the successes. I've been sad about the failures and I have learned from them.
14:59So, yeah, I'm really happy with where I am.
15:02What kind of a moment are you having as an actor with web series, with the success of perhaps Duta?
15:08Even, you know, like you are trying something new, but as an actor, what kind of a moment if you could encapsulate your phase, this current phase?
15:15I feel really liberated, honestly, because going into Duta, there was a lot of questions thrown at me.
15:24Like, are you sure you want to do this? It's completely out of what the people are used to you as.
15:29Are you sure they'll accept you? You know, it's I, in fact, signed it at a point when I was doing this film Love Story.
15:36Love Story released. It did really well for me also. So it was like, are you sure?
15:41Like so many questions were thrown at me. But right now I feel so liberated because I really believed in the script,
15:48really believed in that first narration I had and believed in my director, believed in my character.
15:54So when and it's it's a first for you. It's a first OTT web series.
15:59It's it's the first for a supernatural thriller that I've attempted.
16:04And when so many first work and when so many questions are answered with, you know, with success, it's such a liberating feeling.
16:13So, yeah, that's what I'm going to say. Excellent. You have tasted blood, as we call it.
16:17And I think you're going to definitely go the dark side. This is my last question to you.
16:23I love the fan army that you have. They are more protective of you than anything else.
16:28Any slight, you know, shade on you and they're like, oh, no, he's the best.
16:33Are those fans your biggest strength when your life is like, you know, even in the dumps or doing really well?
16:40We are really, really fortunate to have, you know, this kind of a base, this kind of a fan following because it's so unconditional, the love they show.
16:48I mean, whether you're doing well, not doing well, no matter which point in life you are in, they are always there for you, rooting for you and just encouraging you with whatever you do.
16:59So it's it's it's it's not because of me. It's because of my family that I've been gifted with this kind of a fan following.
17:06So I consider myself extremely lucky to have them. And I keep reminding myself, you know, that it is I need to do this, if not for myself, at least for them.
17:16Because seeing a smile on their face means a lot to me.
17:20Excellent. You have put a smile, not a smile, a frown on my face so far, but still you're doing so well.
17:26Thank you for entertaining us. I have a quick feedback about your show.
17:29Journalists are never this rich, by the way. If you marry another journalist, you're going to die poor.
17:34In journalism school, they said marry rich. That's the only piece of advice our great editors gave us.
17:40So it's very intriguing to see you rich journalists.
17:43I'll tell Vikram this.
17:45Just a feedback. But yeah, but you know what you got to do what you got to do.
17:49Thank you so much for entertaining us, Naga. Thank you.