Spotlight : Dr. Rajsekar

Coming up: a Hindi film

The talented actor of Telugu films, Dr Rajsekar, is now making his debut in Hindi with the multi-lingual mega-venture Adi. Despite the failure of Sivayya two years ago, Dr Rajsekar has never been short of good roles. He even managed to lose 15 kilos to suit a role in one of his forthcoming ventures. Presently, he is in the midst of introducing his actor-director brother Selva to wield the megaphone in Telugu...

Sivayya was released two years ago. It didn’t do too well at the box-office. Yet thankfully it didn’t affect the talented, medico-turned-actor, Dr Rajsekar who has never been short of offers despite the failure. Currently he has five plum offers on hand. He is also making his debut in Hindi with multi-lingual film Adi, which is being directed by Balan, assistant of ace-director Shankar. "Films may have failed but not Rajsekar, the actor," claims the action-star proudly. His next release Oka Chalu has been hailed as his comeback film as he once again portrays the role of an upright cop like he did in Ankusam, ten years ago. He even lost 15 kilos to look trim and fit for the role. He has given his best under the guidance of ace director Raviraja Pinisetty. He baffled the Telugu industry by procuring the remaking rights of the Tamil film Vanathaipol for Rs. 70 lakhs and buyers are already clamouring to procure it for hefty prices vindicating his stance.

Besides an untitled film with his favourite director, Muthayala Subbiah, he is likely to play the lead in the remake of the highly successful Tamil film Sethu. His actor-director brother Selva too will make a foray into Telugu film as a director soon.

The price you have paid for Vanathaipol probably would be the highest for any remake films till date. Don’t you feel other Tamil producers will be tempted to demand a higher price after this deal?
I don’t think so because the price is determined by the success of a film. And obviously Vanathaipol is a record-breaking hit in Tamil. I actually got an offer of Rs one crore two days after procuring it. That shows how popular the film is. I having been asking producer Oscar Ravi who is a friend of mine to give it to me. Initially he was thinking of remaking it himself but later he offered it to me. After watching its tremendous success in Tamil, the Telugu buyers are now clamouring to procure the distribution rights from us from the day of muhurat vindicating my decision.
Since remaking rights are procured only after judging the success of the film, I don’t foresee Telugu producers paying hefty prices for unworthy projects.

After paying such a huge amount only for the rights, you could have easily produced it on your own? Do you think the producers are as passionate as you are about making the film?
All the four producers and a distributor were waiting to make a film with me for some time now and I felt this could be an ideal project to satisfy all of them together. With their confidence in me, they have given me a free hand and have also assured me that they wouldn’t compromise in any aspect. We are planning to commence the shooting from June. I would say the project is as good as my home production since we share a good understanding.

As you have not had any hits after Sivayya, will your much-talked about film Okadu Chalu be your comeback film of sorts?

Okadu Chalu can’t be termed as my comeback film as I haven’t lost my position in Telugu films in the first place. So there is no question of my making a comeback. I have stuck to my position despite some flops as no one blamed my performance in the films though they fared badly. I have always attributed the success of a film to the producer and director and so they should take the blame for failures as well.

I haven’t lost my position in Telugu films in the first place. So there is no question of my making a comeback. I have stuck to my position despite flops I have always attributed the success of a film to the producer and director. So they should take the blame for failures as well

I would certainly take the blame for the mistake I made by choosing half-baked scripts and commenced shoot on the assurance that the filmmakers would polish it as the shooting progressed. Unfortunately that never happened as the film progressed and the result was nothing short of disasters. But I promise never to let that happen again. In future I will not start a project until I am completely satisfied with the script. I would rather sit at home than do some unfinished scripts. It was the case of if one crow is shot at, all the crows on the tree fly away. Similarly most of the producers deserted me when I delivered some flops. And they will again come knocking my doors once I give a hit.

How was it playing an upright cop after a long time in Okadu Chalu? You were even looking very trim and fit.
The character in Ankusam was one of my dream roles and I was waiting for a similar powerful character for almost ore than ten years. I wanted to look trim and fit for the role so I lost more than 15 kilos for that perfect cop look. The film has really shaped up well and it was nice working with Ravi Raja. The film would probably be released in the first week of June.

This year will also see you making a debut in Hindi with the trilingual Adi.
Producer Krishna Prasad told me about the story he had heard from Balan, erstwhile assistant of Shankar and asked me to hear it too. And when Balan narrated it to me, I was impressed. But he needed a few months to complete the script and came back after six months and again took another two months for the climax. He wanted us to produce the film so we approached producer T Subbirami Reddy for a joint production since he is familiar with the production of Telugu, Tamil and Hindi films. He immediately agreed to join us. It would be about a social evil with a big canvas and it will be a big-budget extravaganza. On Balan’s request, we have signed the cream of technicians including art director Sabu Cyril and music composer Ranjit Barot. After a lot of discussion with my friends in Hindi films, I agreed to do a full-fledged negative role only in Hindi. I also insisted that the film should not be dubbed in other languages. In the meanwhile, if some exciting offers come up I would definitely take it up, if not Adi would be my debut film in Hindi.

Director Muthyala Subbiah has cast you in varied roles and has unearthed an emotional actor in you. After eight hits together, will your next film for Balaji Arts live up to those expectations?
Muthyala Subbiah was the co-director for my debut film Vandemataram. He studied my potential thoroughly while I was doing films for his mentor T Krishna. When he turned independent, he cast me in wide ranging roles and extracted the best from me which resulted in eight hits till now. He is like a family member and I feel very relaxed while working with him. Our next venture together is a love story set against a village backdrop with good entertainment values. Apart from other shades, this time he is exploring me in a lighter role and we hope it would be successful too like our earlier films.

Is it true that you are introducing your brother Selva as the director in Telugu? Why are you not ready to publicise about your charitable trust?
My brother Selva has acted in some Tamil films and has also directed a Tamil film. Recently when he narrated a story to me, I liked it and I told him to complete the script in six months. I would be introducing him to Telugu films once everything is ready.
Soon we would be streamlining our trust and we would be helping the needy in a more concrete manner. I think, there is no need to talk about the charity we make.

BVS Prakash