Nani interview on ‘Hi Nanna’: I did not want the success of ‘Dasara’ to dictate what I choose next

Nani interview on ‘Hi Nanna’: I did not want the success of ‘Dasara’ to dictate what I choose next. Hi Nanna, directed by Shouryuv, stars Mrunal Thakur, Shruti Haasan and child actor Kiara

“The emotion might be familiar but the way the story has been written and narrated will make it special for the audience,” says actor Nani, when we catch up for an interview in Hyderabad, days before the release of his new Telugu film, Hi Nanna. The film is a relationship drama in which he plays a single father who has a past and falls in love. Directed by newcomer Shouryuv, Hi Nanna features Mrunal Thakur, child actor Kiara, Jayaram, Priyadarshi Pulikonda, Angad Bedi and Shruti Haasan, and will be released in five languages on December 7.

Edited excerpts from the conversation:

Your previous film Dasara was your first one to cross the ₹100 crore mark at the box office and you shared your happiness through a poster on social media. What did that success mean to you?

I usually do not discuss box office numbers with the media or on stage while promoting my films. I was happy for Srikanth (debut director Srikanth Odela) and the team. Srikanth kept saying that he wanted the film to make it big. He is an innocent guy hailing from Godavarikhani and new to the industry. He was even hesitant to pick up calls from big stars post release since he was unsure how to talk to them. 

Prior to the release, some people assumed we are making a film on the lines of Pushpa; others remarked that I was trying to do a mass film. I have done action films in the past, MCA (Middle Class Abbayi) for example, and they have become hits. Dasara’s success made me happy since the film required thrice the effort of a regular film. We filmed near the coal mines at Godavarikhani and some unit members fell ill. The success was a validation of all our efforts.

Looking back at the film objectively, do you think certain aspects could have been better?

That happens with every film when we look back after a year or two. As cinema keeps evolving, we find flaws. Ala Modalaindi was considered a new-age film when it was released. Now it might look old. Even (in the case of) some of the films for which I have received appreciation for my performance, I know I could have done much better.