From Gamyam to Prasthanam

Judging by his presence in some slightly unusual films, Telugu cinestar Sharvanand is not afraid to walk a different path through filmdom.

He's also selective about his roles, and takes time to decide on each of them. After the critically acclaimed and commercially successful Gamyam, which released in 2008, Sharvanand's next film, Prasthanam, releases April 16.

Prasthanam is directed by Deva Katta, who also directed Sharvanand in Vennela.

Radhika Rajamani caught up with Sharvanand at Beenz, the star's coffee shop in Hyderabad, and talked about Prasthanam. Excerpts:

In Prasthanam, you are working with Deva Katta of Vennela fame. Was that a deciding factor to do the film, aside from the script?

Ultimately (his film Vennela) was where I got a real break. And Ravi (Vallabhaneni) and Deva are close friends of mine. But the priority was the script.

Deva zeroed in on me and I was looking at different scripts and got excited by this one.

What is Prasthanam all about?

The film has a political backdrop, a family drama presented in a new dimension. It's not a typical family drama. The film is about human nature, how in the flip of a second, the mind works in either way -- good or bad. We are not trying to tell a message, we are only trying to entertain through it.

How varied is this role from other roles you have done?

I have never done this kind of role, which has more intensity and is serious. Initially when I heard it I said, "Wow!" Deva had the confidence in me. We were okay once we started the film.

Could you talk about the experience of working with Deva?

He's like one of my best friends and we are open about whatever we do. I can say what I don't like about the scene(s) and vice versa. We can have frank discussions always.

Mahesh Shankar composes music for Prasthanam after Vennela...

He has done a fantastic job. I have no words to talk about his work. He will go to another league with his re-recording.

Your last release Raju Maharaju had an average run. You had the scope to perform in the film. Were you disappointed at the way it was received?

I felt bad. It was not a hit, as we expected it to be. I felt disappointed -- more so for the producer.

In Raju Maharaju, you got a chance to act with Mohan Babu. Was it a learning experience?

Definitely. With a senior actor, one tends to learn so many things.

Are you happy at the way your career is shaping up?

Yes, I am very much happy. I am enjoying whatever I am doing. That's what matters to me.

I would love to have more hits and do more films. That way I can get producers who trust me and invest in different genres. I am confident that two years down the line there will be different genre films in Telugu.