Nagarjuna Akkineni interview: On playing a middle-class man in ‘Kuberaa’ and a suave antagonist in ‘Coolie’-OxBig News Network

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.”

Hard-hitting and entertaining

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.”

Sekhar Kammula and Nagarjuna during the dubbing process
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

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.”

The role required Nagarjuna to both unlearn and relearn. There were extensive discussions before filming began, and on set, Sekhar would brief the actors not just on the scene at hand but also on the ones preceding and following it, to offer full context. “There were moments when Sekhar would say, ‘I don’t want to see confidence in your eyes, tone it down.’ For another scene, he told me to let the tragedy show through my eyes, because my character knows the truth. These details made the performance feel authentic.”

Jim Sarbh, Rashmika, Nagarjuna, and Dhanush in the film
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Nagarjuna recalls how Jim Sarbh surprised the entire team with his command over Telugu dialogue. “He was the most hard-working among us,” he says. “He doesn’t speak a word of Telugu, yet he delivered even the longer lines with the correct intonation.”

Unapologetic antagonist

Back in 1988–89, Nagarjuna worked on two vastly different films in succession — Mani Ratnam’s romantic musical drama Geetanjali, followed by Ram Gopal Varma’s gritty actioner Siva. Decades later, history repeats itself as he juggles between the emotionally grounded Kuberaa and Lokesh Kanagaraj’s high-octane action entertainer Coolie, starring Rajinikanth.

He laughs at the contrast. “I have been switching between a middle-class character and a suave antagonist,” he says. “But both directors, and their teams, create the right environment on set. Lokesh, for instance, plays background music suited to each scene — it could be from Jailer or any Tamil, Telugu, even English film. It helps everyone get into the mood instantly.”

Nagarjuna Akkineni
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

In Coolie, Nagarjuna plays an antagonist with no room for introspection or redemption. “He’s an unapologetic, double alpha male,” Nagarjuna says. “But there are no crass or crude scenes — it’s the character’s mindset that comes through. I enjoyed playing the bad guy who believes he’s the king of the world and will take what he wants. When you have a protagonist like Rajinikanth, it’s essential to have a formidable antagonist.”

100th film

Nagarjuna will soon begin work on his 100th film. With over four decades in the industry, he believes staying relevant means keeping pace with changing audience preferences. “It is the younger generation that’s going to cinemas. We need to understand what appeals to them and present it in a way that resonates. I cannot come across as someone lecturing them. If I question why they are glued to their phones or stay up all night, they won’t listen. Either I adapt to connect with them or I step aside.”

He observes that audiences today are discerning about what they want to watch in cinemas versus on digital platforms. “Some films are doing exceptionally well while others are tanking. The disparity is stark. Take Court, for instance — not a big-budget film, yet it did very well because of its strong drama.”

The actor has seen the industry face existential questions thrice in his career — whether during the advent of television, the shift from film to digital, or now with OTT platforms. While acknowledging real challenges such as shorter theatrical windows and piracy, Nagarjuna remains optimistic. “If a film is well made, the theatrical experience is still unmatched. New technology will only enhance that. The kind of viewing experience that’s coming to cinemas simply cannot be recreated at home.”

Speaking of the communal joy of watching films on the big screen, he offers an example. “I watched Pushpa 2at home and again in the cinema. It was fun in the theatre, but boring at home. It’s like watching a cricket match alone versus being in a stadium — cheering, feeling the excitement build. That atmosphere makes all the difference.”