Ahead of the release of Nirmala Convent, Nagarjuna Akkineni is quite busy with a spree of interviews, press interactions. Yet he is cool, composed and quite confident on the film. Nag talked at length about his about-to-release Nirmala Convent, his previous and upcoming films, his sons, their much-talked about weddings and lot more. Excerpts form a candid conversation.

Nirmala Convent

After Oopiri, I was jumping to do film Om Namo Venkatesaya - the life-story of Hatiram Bhava. But when I heard of Nirmala Convent, I thought I should be doing the role. It's an uplifting film and it's kind of the role that I always love. I nudge the boy (Samuel played by Roshan) in the film and advise him, help him to find a solution on his own. I'll be seen through out the second half of the film.

Roshan is good looking and also talented guy. I didn't know he was Srikanth's son when I was looking at photos for the audition. When I first saw his photo, I had thought he has the features of Srikanth and later I was told he was indeed Srikanth's son. Roshan heard me when I was humming the song 'Kotha Kotha Basha' in studio and told me that my voice is good. That's how it started. Music director Koti's son Roshan Saluri guided me in singing. The young boy really helped me a lot.

After Manam

Things changed a lot after Manam. Manam was the major turning point. It changed my thought process and made me open for more experiments. And Oopiri cemented it further. It's a life-changing film for me. I should thank audiences for accepting such films. Nirmala Convent too is good film. I've watched it. I'm confident on the film and it'll do how it should do.

Hathiram Bhava

There's very little information available about Hathiram Bhavaji. We tried our best to gather. The film chronicles the lifetime of Hathiram Bhava. His original name was Ram Bhava and since he was saved by Lord Vishnu in form of elephant (Hathi), he's called as Hathiram Bhava. The film is dramatized well with the information we have. It can be called as a fictional film on a true story.

Youngsters

I'm quite amazed with the confidence and clarity the younger generation has. Especially, the sons/daughters of the actors, technicians in the industry are quite confident on what they want to make and how they want to do. Be it Suma and Rajeev Kanakala's son or Srikanth's son or Koti's son..., I'm very impressed with the way youngsters planning their careers.

Change in Promotions Trend in T-town:

It's a catch-22 situation.As the budgets have been increased and so the openings and BO collections, even the promotions have been upped. Especially, people need to constantly remained of the film's release these days as they're busy with their own stuff and occupied with their own things. There's a lot of things to divert their attention now a days, so promotions play key role.

But I believe all these promotions only help till the film's release. Once the film is released, it's only the word-of-the-mouth that speaks for. If anyone doing aggressive promotion after film's release, that means the film isn't faring well and hence they're over-promoting.

Bollywood:

I'm quite content with the way I'm now. If I get any challenging and interesting roles, definitely I'm there to do in Hindi. However, I don't do insignificant roles. If I have to do, I'll do only well-etched roles like I'm doing in Nirmala Convent. I'm looking forward to do more such roles.

Production:

Annapurna Studios is all charged up as we're producing two films - one with Akhil (directed by Vikram Kumar) and other with Chaitanya (Kalyan Krishna). Recently, I've watched Pelli Choopulu and liked it very much. I called up Tharun Bhascker and offered him to produce a film unconditionally. I told him 'you could choose Akhil or Chaitanya or even me or whoever the star he would like to cast, and I'm ready to bring them on board'.

On Akhil's second

Vikram had told me an interesting love story during the filming of Manam. I had told him that it's cute and would suit youngsters like Akhil and even hinted to do it. But after Manam, Vikram had come and said he'd go to do Suriya's film and I said okay. And finally it's happening now.

I should thank Allu Aravind who agreed for Vikram doing a film in the gap. (Vikram has to direct Allu Arjun after 24. But Arjun is busy with Harish Shankar film and Vikram has got gap).

Meelo Evaru Koteeswarudu

I had expressed to quit MEK after the second season itself. But I was forced to do the third season. I've to let it go. I'm happy doing different roles, different genres of films.

On Websites, Reviews

I don't follow websites. Even I was never a newspaper reader since my childhood. I get news from people around me. If I've to know, anyone around me would tell me. If someone send me the notification, then I'll read. Now a days news, information is flowing everywhere. But I read blogs. I read blogs on space traveling, environment which interest me a lot. And I read all the reviews of my movies so that it'd help me correct myself.

Wedding Bells

(Laughs out loud) Yeah, wedding bells are ringing. Dates have not been confirmed yet. They're looking for good muhurats. But first, Akhil has to finish his second film (before wedding) and all our focus on the two films we're going to produce.