Your first two films have both been made on a large scale. How does it feel to do such big-budget films at the beginning of your career?
Virat Karna: I consider it my good fortune. My first film, Peddha Kapu, was also made on a big budget, and now Nagabandham has also been mounted on a very grand scale. Irrespective of the result of Peddha Kapu, I gave my 100 percent as an actor and did everything that was required for that role. I received good appreciation for my performance. For Nagabandham, I worked twice as hard.
How did your journey with Nagabandham begin?
Virat Karna: Abhishek Nama garu had prepared this story and was looking for an actor who could suit the role. He felt that a fresh face with the required qualities would be perfect for the character. At that time, he called me and narrated the story. I liked it a lot and felt very excited. That is how this journey began.
Did you plan this as a ₹100-crore-budget film from the beginning?
Virat Karna: No. Initially, we did not plan it that way. As the film developed and the content demanded a larger scale, the budget also kept increasing.
How did you prepare for your role?
Virat Karna: When I heard the story, I got complete clarity about how my character should be. I felt as if this story was written for me. When I heard about the roles of Rudra and the Naga Sadhu, I was very excited. I felt this was the kind of film I had been waiting for. I immediately started working on my body transformation. I learned horse riding and also focused specially on dance. I changed myself completely for the role. For the Naga Sadhu look, the makeup alone used to take nearly six hours.
Will there be a sequel to this film?
Virat Karna: Yes. Our director has already said that there will be a Part 2 for this film.
How does it feel to get such a larger-than-life character in only your second film?
Virat Karna: I always wanted to create a strong identity for myself in the industry. For any actor, getting a role like this is a great opportunity. I got that opportunity through Nagabandham. I worked extremely hard for this film. Even when I had fever during the shoot, I did not step back. I worked with full dedication and gave my heart and soul to the project.
Appearing in a Shiva-inspired form requires a lot of energy. How challenging was it?
Virat Karna: When I heard the story, I clearly understood how the Rudra character should be. For the role, I gained nearly 20 kilos. Later, to appear as a Naga Sadhu, I reduced around five kilos. I took a lot of care regarding body transformation. During the shoot, I used to visit a Shiva temple every day and perform abhishekam. After the shoot was completed, I also wore Shiva mala. During that spiritual journey, I visited many Shiva temples.
Gaining and losing weight must have been difficult. How did you handle it?
Virat Karna: I have always liked going to the gym, but preparing for this role was a very special process. During that time, one of my muscles got injured. Doctors even advised me to take six months of rest.
Did you feel pressure while working on such a huge film?
Virat Karna: Initially, I was a little scared. Every day, there were nearly 300 junior artists on the set, along with huge sets. For the Namo Re song, around 5,000 people participated. But our director Abhishek Nama garu handled all that pressure. He always encouraged me and said, “We are making a good film, do not think about anything else.”
What would you like to say about the producers?
Virat Karna: The producers believed strongly in the content and invested a huge budget. Producing a film on this scale is not an ordinary thing. They are also promoting the film in a wonderful way. Bookings opened four days in advance and the response has been very good. Looking at the bookings, I feel that God’s blessings are with us.
How has the film shaped up?
Virat Karna: The film has come out wonderfully. Everyone who has watched it so far has given very positive reports. Abhishek Nama garu understands the mass pulse very well. Every scene he directed gave me goosebumps. Audiences will enjoy the film as a grand visual experience in theatres.
Who inspired you to enter films?
Virat Karna: Megastar Chiranjeevi garu is my inspiration. I grew up watching his films from childhood. I used to dance to his songs, and that is how my interest in cinema developed.
What kind of experience did this film give you as an actor?
Virat Karna: This film gave me a lot of confidence. I learned many things as an actor. I feel Abhishek Nama garu shaped me like a precious gem.
Is there any memorable incident from the shoot?
Virat Karna: We shot during extreme winter. For one scene, according to the character, I had to appear without proper covering on my body. While performing an action sequence in that cold weather, my body completely froze. The team immediately took me to the caravan, removed the makeup and rushed me to the emergency ward at Apollo Hospital. After tests, doctors said everything was normal. The very next day, I returned to the shoot.
Did you attend any workshop for this role?
Virat Karna: Yes. We conducted a special workshop for this character. We also took great care regarding the dialogues.
What can you say about Nabha Natesh’s role?
Virat Karna: Nabha’s role is very important in the film. There are some suspense elements connected to her character, and audiences will understand them only when they watch the film on screen. Her character has strong importance. The songs in the film will also look visually grand.
What kind of films do you personally like to do?
Virat Karna: I like films such as Mirchi. I want to do films that have family emotions, fights and strong commercial elements.
You promoted the film in other states as well. How was the response there?
Virat Karna: The response was wonderful. After watching the trailer and teaser, audiences became very excited. Bookings are currently excellent in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. From today, bookings have picked up even more speed.
Did you use a body double for action scenes?
Virat Karna: No. I did not use a body double for even a single action scene in this film. I personally performed all the action sequences. I gave my 100 percent effort for this role.
What are your upcoming films?
Virat Karna: My plan is to do two films every year. I will announce my new films soon.
All the best for Nagabandham.
Virat Karna: Thank you.
