The promotions for Mahendragiri Varahi are happening aggressively. How do you feel about the response?
Sumanth: This is one of the biggest-budget films I have been part of in recent years. The producers mounted it on a grand scale and are promoting it aggressively. The film will also release in Hindi and Tamil, and audiences from North India have shown interest. The response to the teaser and trailer has been extremely encouraging, and we are very confident about the film.
Your comments about being the “elder grandson” at the pre-release event went viral. What did you mean?Sumanth: I made that comment about Akhil in a light-hearted way. I heard that people call him “Ayyagaru.” Since I am the eldest among the grandsons, I jokingly said it would sound more appropriate if the elder one were addressed that way. It was simply a fun remark.
What connected you most strongly with the story?
Sumanth: I liked the entire story. The interval, pre-climax and climax episodes are particularly impressive and will give audiences a strong high. Director Santosh Jagarlapudi narrated the story to me in a single sitting, and I immediately connected with it.
Santosh has a deep understanding of the Vedas and Indian mythology, making this an ideal subject for him. We did not initially expect the film to be made on such a huge scale, but everything—including the VFX, performances and theatrical presentation—came together exceptionally well.
What kind of character do you play?
Sumanth: I play a YouTuber who exposes superstitions. I cannot reveal anything more about the character at this stage. Although it is primarily a devotional action thriller, the film also contains strong family drama and commercial elements.
What can audiences expect from Siddhu Jonnalagadda’s role?
Sumanth: Siddhu plays a serious character. We share an important scene that will be one of the film’s major highlights. Everyone who has watched it believes the sequence has come out brilliantly and will significantly strengthen the film. I sincerely thank Siddhu for agreeing to play this special role.
Was the film planned to take advantage of the current mythology trend?
Sumanth: No. Films such as Karthikeya and Kantara brought mythology-based stories back into the spotlight, although such films existed even earlier. We finalised this story three years ago, but we did not find the right producers at that time.
Madhu joined the project a year later, followed by Lakshman, who came on board after watching and liking the footage. Lakshman has worked on several films with Dil Raju, and we are delighted to have him associated with this project.
Your choice of roles has always been varied. What kind of characters do you prefer?
Sumanth: I enjoy every role I perform. I am interested in exploring different characters, genres and stories rather than limiting myself to one particular type of role.
The trailer reminded some viewers of Murari. Are the two films similar?
Sumanth: The idea that members of a family die after crossing the age of 33 may remind viewers of Murari. However, the story and screenplay of Mahendragiri Varahi are entirely different. This is a completely distinct subject with its own narrative and treatment.
How important is Anup Rubens’ music to the film?
Sumanth: Anup Rubens’ background score will be one of the film’s biggest highlights. His re-recording creates a powerful, goosebumps-inducing experience and adds tremendous impact to the important sequences.
Did the popularity of Varahi Devi and Pawan Kalyan’s Varahi Yatra help the title?
Sumanth: We registered the title when the story was originally finalised. Varahi proved positive for Pawan Kalyan, and we hope the same positive energy continues for our film as well.
What kind of action can audiences expect?
Sumanth: The film contains three major action episodes along with several other action blocks. I enjoy performing action and have previously acted in many action-oriented films. If I receive another strong action story, I will certainly consider doing it.
Are you open to playing villainous or supporting roles?
Sumanth: I have always been open to playing negative characters. Along with lead roles, I am ready to portray well-written villains and powerful supporting characters if the role offers sufficient depth and impact.
With Newton’s Third Law and Mahendragiri Varahi arriving consecutively, what are your upcoming projects?Sumanth: I have listened to a few new stories, but I have not finalised any project yet.
