Actor Siddharth has been trending on social media every other day because of his innumerable talents. Besides his flamboyant personality and appealing looks, the actor’s untapped talent can just bowl you over.
By cracking a few jokes and singing a popular chartbuster from his love story, he would turn the mood in his stride at any given instance.
That’s what he has been doing for the past few days — wooing audiences to his side with his talents as part of the promotions of his upcoming action thriller titled Takkar (Clash) which is up for theatrical release on 9 June.
Starring Siddharth and Divyansha Kaushi in the lead roles, Takkar also casts Abhimanyu Singh, Yogi Babu, Vignesh, Munishkanth, and RJ Vigneshkanth in key roles.
It is directed by Karthik G Krish and produced by TG Vishwaprasad under the banner People Media Factory in collaboration with Abhishek Aggarwal Arts and Passion Studios.
At a press interaction held on Monday, 5 June, Siddharth spoke about Takkar, why he is vexed with love stories, what Maha Samudram gave him, and why he wants to try his luck again in Tollywood.
‘Money is never a priority’
“Takkar is a clash between two titans which is, of course, evident from the posters. But unlike the regular film, this one refreshingly captures the clash between hero and heroine. Besides the action sequences between hero-villain, emotional fights, gender clashes, egos, age, and money come into play between hero-heroine. Takkar has all the shades in it,” Siddharth elucidated.
The actor plays a frustrated youth of today’s generation who wants to become rich but by truthful means.
Ask him if he ever thought he wanted to become a millionaire as a child and the Bommarillu actor said, “My upbringing was quite different. I grew up hearing my parents say that ‘money is not everything; that there is no connection between happiness and money’. But now, we rarely hear parents say that. This generation looks at the thickness of wallets.”
“Now, money describes a person. Youngsters are after money and are obsessed with it. But I precisely don’t know what to do with it,” he quipped.
#Takkar Series
First ever time in Indian cinema, get to watch the Episodes before release 🤟🏻🔥
In Cinemas on JUNE 9th
🌟#Siddharth
Directed by @Karthik_G_Krish@itsdivyanshak @AAArtsOfficial @nivaskprasanna @editorgowtham @PassionStudios_ @thinkmusicindia pic.twitter.com/08J2e8Aht7— People Media Factory (@peoplemediafcy) June 6, 2023
About his middle-class upbringing
Siddharth’s mother always encouraged him to explore the world and sense the beauty, and listen to every song in every language.
“She always told me that earning money should never be the aim of my life. But my father kept advising me to have a decent job for my survival. If the basic needs are taken care of, you can do whatever you want to achieve in life.”
In this connection, he recalled his days as an assistant director.
“We were given a monthly salary of ₹2,000 and another ₹160 for petrol. We needed to present bills for petrol allowance. Else, the cashier wouldn’t approve. Pleasing him, in any manner, wouldn’t work. That ₹160 might have now become ₹1,000 due to inflation. But I would still value that ₹160 as a middle-class person. There’s nothing that can compensate for your happiness.”
Siddharth doesn’t want to drive posh cars or wear fashionable clothes.
“I like wearing old clothes, over and again, because they give me comfort. I still wear the denim jacket that I wore during my college. My character in Takkar is in quite a contrast to my real-life personality. He believes that money can control everything in life but I don’t,” he added.
Also Read: Telugu actor Thiruveer on his latest film ‘Pareshan’
On changing trends in Tollywood
About Tollywood and the changing trends, Siddharth observed, “Tollywood always rocks. It was rocking even before SS Rajamouli made his masterpieces. Telugu cinema already saw its golden days. We call the late D Ramanaidu a ‘Movie Moghul’ because he conquered the cinema world. Individual achievements are always great.”
He pointed out that veterans like Kodi Ramakrishna made 300-plus films. “But now, a film takes four years to see the light. Promotions take a month or so. The whole scenario of how the industry is functioning has changed.”
He believes that an actor getting an authored-backed character would be an achievement in itself.
“During the ’70s, the writer was looked up to by people. Back then, in Hollywood, writers were the highest-paid employees. But the trend kept changing. The barriers to entry into films have gone now. It doesn’t matter if you are trained by a senior or not. Only talent matters,” he asserted.
When questioned about his long hiatus in Telugu, despite enjoying a huge fan base here, Siddharth said: “I’ve never said ‘no’ to the films I was offered. It’s just that good scripts aren’t coming my way in Tollywood. Indeed, Telugu people are the only audiences who love movies the most in the entire country.”
He recollected an incident when he scored a super hit in Telugu a few years ago. “Our team was celebrating 175 days of a successful run in theatres and I learnt that people were still going to cinema halls with their families, repeatedly, on weekends. I’ve not seen this anywhere in the country. Telugu audiences are obsessed with cinema!”
Despite the break, the actor confidently says that he’s still connected with Telugu audiences. “There hasn’t been a comma between me and the Telugu audience. A full stop is a far-fetched one. People still swarm around me when I visit a place in the Telugu states!”
Clicks from Grand Pre-Release Event of #Takkar ✨#Siddharth @Karthik_G_Krish @nivaskprasanna @itsdivyanshak @AAArtsOfficial @PassionStudios_ @editorgowtham @Donechannel1 @shreyasgroup pic.twitter.com/klqTbetcs8
— People Media Factory (@peoplemediafcy) June 4, 2023
Clipped wings of freedom
Lack of support in Telugu prompted him to back out and return to Chennai to work on his film experiments.
“I didn’t get proper support in Telugu to put my ideas on paper. I returned to Chennai and made five films in Tamil which earned me good money. It would take 10 years to get a product worth gold if there is a proper system in place.”
He initially wanted to experiment in Tollywood. But he was greeted with several questions like why dabble with film production? Why not a romantic love story or a boy-next-door role? Why do you want to try action-oriented flicks?
“I’m coming before Telugu audiences now after proving my mettle as a producer in Tamil. There are several projects in the pipeline to cash on the positive connection that I gained here,” the Boys actor said.
“Now, if you ask me about my dream, I would say I need the freedom to make a movie according to my preferences and choices, but not ₹100 crore or fan clubs,” he hastened to add.
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On Maha Samudram
Siddharth says he had put a lot of heart into Maha Samudram (2021), his last outing in Telugu.
“Maha Samudram gave me two best buddies — Sharwanand and Aditi Rao Hydari. Just before the release day, producer Anil Sunkara exuded confidence that it is off to a good start since it was made with a controlled budget. But it didn’t connect with the audience and I was deeply disappointed,” he recalled.
However, he could find solace in the failure thinking that he did justice to the remuneration by delivering a good performance and he was looking as stylish as ever.
“Now, will I be working with director Ajay Bhupathi again? Why not? I would love to,” Siddharth clarified.
Also Read: I wanted ‘Pareshan’ to be authentic: Director Rupak Ronaldson
The vexed lover boy
The Rang De Basanti actor admits that playing the lover boy, repeatedly, is emotionally tiring and draining.
“The Telugu industry goes by the rule that a hero who plays a lover boy should keep on doing the same role, over and again. I was vexed,” he pointed out.
Interestingly, of his first five films in Telugu, Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana (2005) and Bommarillu (2006) featured as the best love stories for the last 100 years in Telugu.
“The movies stood as benchmarks, rather than roadblocks, for filmmakers to look for a refreshing subject. Every time I do a love story, I feel a sense of repetitiveness as I’ve to do the same sequences again and again,” the actor quipped.
Siddharth is rather frightened that he may have to forgo another 10 years of his career if he accidentally accepts a film similar to Bommarillu. “So, I told myself that I am not here to give a rose to my lady love and do a family scene and repent for the next 10 years,” he laughed.
While he is excited about his role in Kamal Haasan-starrer Indian 2, a pan-India flick, Siddharth is confident to make big strides again with his forthcoming flick titled Chinna. “I would continue doing action and new-age films in Telugu in the coming days. Only action can quench my thirst,” he signed off.
