Nagarjuna & Sekhar Kammula on Kuberaa, Dhanush & Telugu Cinema's Golden Age | InFocus | THR India

In this engaging episode of InFocus, Anupama Chopra sits down with Telugu cinema legends Nagarjuna Akkineni and Sekhar Kammula in Hyderabad to discuss their upcoming collaboration on "Kuberaa." The conversation delves deep into Sekhar's approach to filmmaking, his commitment to telling stories about the marginalized, and how he maintains his signature authenticity after 25 years in the industry. Nagarjuna reflects on his four-decade journey in cinema, sharing insights about his evolution as an actor and his willingness to embrace challenging roles beyond the traditional leading man persona.

The duo opens up about working with powerhouse performers like Dhanush, Rashmika Mandanna, and Jim Sarbh, revealing behind-the-scenes moments that shaped their ambitious project. From Sekhar's fear of repetition and his method of staying rooted in social consciousness, to Nag's recent liberating experience playing an antagonist in "Coolie," this conversation captures the essence of what makes Telugu cinema so compelling today. Both artists discuss the current golden age of South Indian cinema and their philosophy on balancing commercial entertainment with meaningful storytelling.

00:00 Introduction
01:11 Welcoming Nagarjuna & Sekhar Kammula
01:38 Discussion about Dhanush's praise for Sekhar Kammula's purity and authenticity
04:32 Nagarjuna on Sekhar's consistency and childlike innocence over 25 years
07:03 Sekhar Kammula's approach to creating soft, humble male characters
09:52 Sekhar's self-doubt and constant questioning as a filmmaker
12:05 Discussion about thousand crore movies and box office pressure
14:22 Working with Chaitanya and preparation methods for different actors
18:44 Casting process and working with multiple stars
21:25 Nagarjuna's experience working with Dhanush as a method actor
24:18 Sekhar's motivation for making Kuberaa
27:13 Scaling up from signature cinema to bigger budget filmmaking
29:37 Nagarjuna's evolution towards character roles
35:19 Sekhar's creative process and avoiding repetition
39:37 Cinema's social responsibility vs. pure entertainment
47:25 Discussion on Telugu cinema's golden age and pan-Indian success
55:21 IMDb segment - favorite films of both guests
57:43 Closing remarks

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