Nagarjuna Akkineni interview: Sekhar Kammula is a great storyteller and stars like us can add value

Nagarjuna Akkineni discusses his collaboration with director Sekhar Kammula for Kuberaa, and working with Lokesh Kanagaraj for Rajinikanth' Coolie

Amid the promotional whirlwind, when Nagarjuna Akkineni finally sits down for this interview, he jokes about being the only one giving interviews while director Sekhar Kammula is tied up with last-minute post-production. Kuberaa, his first collaboration with the filmmaker, and with co-stars Dhanush, Rashmika Mandanna and Jim Sarbh, releases in cinemas in multiple languages on June 20.

The trailer, which hints at a drama spanning different strata of society, has already sparked curiosity. “Whenever we step into a new zone, we always have butterflies. We wonder whether the audience will accept it,” says Nagarjuna, who has been watching recent releases to understand audience sentiment. “People have been receptive to films with strong drama and compelling characters, regardless of scale. In Kuberaa, we are all playing characters — we are not acting like stars. I believe that will resonate.”

This collaboration has been a long time coming. Nagarjuna does not hide his admiration for Sekhar’s ability to craft socially conscious, yet entertaining films that also perform well at the box office. “We have met several times over the years, and I used to joke with him — he has worked with my wife, son, and nephew, so what is stopping him from casting me?”

Amala Akkineni starred in Life is Beautiful,Naga Chaitanya in Love Story, and Sumanth played the lead in Godavari. Nagarjuna recalls, “Sekhar would say, ‘You are a big star — I am not sure you would fit into my stories’. And I would tell him, he is a brilliant storyteller, and stars like us can help bring people to the cinema. It’s not just true for Telugu, Hindi or Tamil cinema — even in Hollywood, audiences go to theatres to watch a Tom Cruise or Tom Hanks film.”

When Sekhar finally approached Nagarjuna for Kuberaa, the actor readily accepted. “I do not often get such opportunities where I can truly become a character,” he says. Recalling the film’s pre-release event, he adds, “SS Rajamouli put it beautifully. He spoke about how Sekhar, who appears deceptively soft-spoken, never compromises on his principles, and that conviction shows in his storytelling.”

In recent years, Nagarjuna has appeared in the action dramas Wild Dog and The Ghost, as well as the entertainer Naa Saami Ranga. While none stood out remarkably, they hinted at the actor’s desire to reinvent himself. “I was looking for something distinctive and found that in Sekhar’s film,” he says. “Take Wild Dog, for instance, the narration was solid but straightforward, with no room for commercial elements. Sekhar has this knack for placing a song where you least expect it, and making it feel organic. His films are uplifting, with strong music and a clear message. Love Story addressed caste and gender while still entertaining. It made people think. Kuberaa will do the same.”

Love Story marked a turning point for Naga Chaitanya, whose emotionally nuanced performance drew praise. In Kuberaa, Nagarjuna plays a middle-class character named Deepak, opposite Dhanush’s beggar, Deva, and Jim Sarbh’s ultra-wealthy businessman. “The story unfolds between these three social strata and strikes an emotional chord,” he says. “The song ‘Naadhi Naadhi’ encapsulates the narrative beautifully.”