Rana Daggubati on India's first Navy film 'Ghazi' and changes in the film industry

After a fantastic 2015, Baahubali actor Rana Daggubati is kicking off 2016 with a new film. Daggubati loves to experiment with his films and roles and is, today, a household name across India. He has worked in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi films and is as comfortable in these languages as he is with his diverse roles.

In an exclusive interview with dna, the actor talks about his new film Ghazi, Indian cinema and other films in his kitty.

Do you think Baahubali has changed Indian cinema?

The Indian film industry has changed today and that’s a really good thing for actors. Today, I have the option of choosing films from across India that I want to be a part of. Baahubali was made in Telugu and Tamil and released in Hindi as well. It was accepted nationally and not seen as a film featuring a bunch of Telugu actors and director. The story resonated with the audience. Now, a man in Madurai can make a pan-Indian film as long as the content and story have a national appeal. This man will still make films for the local audience but he can also reach out nationally. There is a lot more collaboration as well between film industries. I would have seen hardly one or two Malayalam films till a few years ago. But now I watch a Malayalam film every two weeks. In fact, I'll be watching Charlie this weekend. It's like going back to the days of Mani Ratnam’s Roja and Ram Gopal Varma’s Shiva. These films were a hit nationally though they were originally made in Tamil and Telugu.

After doing a large-scale production like Baahubali, you opted for Bangalore Naatkal.

I wanted to do something more realistic and slice-of-life after Baahubali. Moreover, I don’t think it matters if a move is big budget or small budget, I think it’s content and story that matter. When I had seen Bangalore Days with my friends and cousins, each one of us could relate to some aspect of the film. Bangalore Days was to be made in Telugu but that didn’t take off so when the Tamil version, Bangalore Naatkal, was offered to me I jumped at it. I also got the role I wanted. I play Fahadh Faasil’s role of Shivadas in the film. 

Rana in 'Bangalore Naatkal'.

Tell us about the Telugu-Hindi bilingual film, Ghazi, which you are starting next.

There have been a lot of films in India that have been about the Indian army. This is the first time that a movie is being made about the Navy. Everyone knows about the Pakistani submarine PNS Ghazi sinking off the Vishakapatnam coast in Indo-Pak war in 1971. But the files are classified and no one really knows the exact turn of events that took place between the Indian Navy and them. This movie is about that submarine and its untold story. The director Sankalp and I did quite a bit of research. The files are classified so we have tried to reconstruct it as close as possible to the real story. We are making this as a pan-Indian film and hope the audience across India likes it.

What about research for your role in particular?

I have looked at numerous top naval commanders from around the world and tried to imbue characteristics from them. I have seen a lot of Hollywood films with navy commanders as well growing up. I have tried to model my character like that of Denzel Washington’s in Crimson Tide. But of course this may change during the course of the shoot.

The actor sports a guy-next-door look in the Tamil remake of 'Bangalore Days'

Each of your films have been different from the other. Is that a deliberate choice?

That’s what keeps me going as an actor. The ability to experiment with roles and genres is important for me as an actor.

So what other films are on the anvil for you?

Once I finish shooting for Ghazi, I am starting shoot for Baahubali Part 2 in March. I have films with director Bala and director Ameer as well. Director Bala’s script is fabulous and so is Ameer’s. I also have Baby 2 in Hindi and Leader 2 in Telugu, though I am not sure when these films are starting at this point. 

Any resolutions on the personal front for 2016?

That’s a tough one. I haven’t made any yet but ask me again by the end of the year!