I have signed a film with director Kanmani. It is yet to be titled and the script is being worked on. I had seen his film Naa Oopiri and was impressed by the last 20 minutes. I will be working with Charmee. Kanmani narrated the idea of the film to my sister, who felt I should listen to it and do the film. I liked the script. I will play a realistic toughie, not a cinematic one. I may start shooting for it after the US premiere of Godavari, possibly by the end of May.

On what he looks for in a role

I need to see myself in the script. I also look at economics - the film has to be commercially viable for the people who make it too. I feel I am not ready for a full-time comedy. I don't enjoy thrillers and, even in the hardest of films, there has to be a soft side. I pay great attention to the script. At that time I am picky and ensure it is meticulously done. Later on, it becomes the director's game.

I am a big fan of the anti-hero. In this context, Bollywood is pushing the envelope, Tamil cinema is trying something different but, unfortunately, not much is happening in Telugu cinema. I can count the number of path-breaking films in Telugu in the last two decades and my uncle has been part of most of them. Somebody has to come up with that kind of script and a hero with guts should take it up.

On life outside cinema I am a home bird. I have a selective group of friends. I watch TV and manage to catch a movie at a multiplex once a week. I enjoy playing with my dogs. I have two Labradors named Boss and Babe.

On his illustrious lineage

I think of it as a wonderful responsibility, not a burden. It's great to see my uncle (Nagarjuna) carrying on the mantle. Someday, it will fall on the third generation. I did a movie with my grandfather (Akkineni Nageswara Rao) and another with my uncle. For all three of us to be seen together in a movie, somebody has to come up with a good script.