A conversation with Athidhi

Work day begun. Good morning sun. I switch on my mobile. Many missed cals, multiple messages. Impossible auto drivers. I’m already in a pool of exhaustion trying to reach the sets of Athidhi on time. I hurriedly take out my pen and amidst a web of confused words jot down the questions I’m supposed to ask Mahesh. Work done I past through his apartment near which the shooting is going on.

The first time I met Mahesh Babu was on the sets of Athadu. Every meeting there after has been a revelation. I discovered something new about this actor. Apart from having good taste, a cool sense of humour and being sportive, I’ve noticed on the sets that he develops his own sense of a character and he then adds just that extra kick, the touch of the extraordinary.

Mahesh finds time between the shots. He’s in the same yellow shirt, looks cool despite the beating heat and while I shoot a volley of questions he answers all of them candidly and sounds very sure of what he means. I will post my conversation with him soon but as of now Mahesh clears the air and a misunderstanding that fans have about producer Ashwani Dutt.

In an exclusive chat with Cinema Prapancham, the Prince says, “Dutt garu is the one of the best producers we have. As for his efforts are concerned for Sainikudu he put in 200 percent. It’s not true that he didn’t pay me completely. He gave me my complete remuneration long back before Sainikudu had begun. The fans are upset because Sainikudu flopped. I would love to work in a film produced by him again.”  (More later)