Writer-director Srinivas Gavireddy is having the best time of his life. Hot on the heels of the release of Sunny Deol-starrer Jaat, which he had co-written with frequent collaborator Gopichand Malineni, Gavireddy is looking at an eventful year. His next release is Samantha-produced Subham, where he is playing one of the three main leads alongside Harshith Reddy and Charan Perri. For someone who entered the industry with dreams of delivering super hits as a director, acting happened by chance. “I was a part of the writing team of web series Kumari Srimathi. I landed an acting gig in the film, courtesy the show’s creator Srinivas Avasarala and producer Swapna Dutt. They observed me closely while I was participating in the story discussions and felt I’d be a fresh choice for the role of Dorababu in the show and convinced me. I got a lot of reach and appreciation for the role. Soon afterwards I was offered a couple of projects as an actor but I declined them as I was focused on getting back to direction. Out of the blue, one day I was approached for a role in Subham. As Samantha garu was backing it, I auditioned for the project. The director liked my audition and later Samantha garu and creative producer Raj Nidimoru too okayed my participation,” he tells us in an exclusive conversation.
So far, Gavireddy has done the balancing act –co-writing, acting and prepping for his directorial comeback –to perfection. “I haven’t faced any problems when it comes to contributing as a writer but if I get back to direction, I will have to pause my acting assignments. Nonetheless, if a good role comes along, I will try to take time and do it for sure. Malayalam actor-director Basil Joseph is an inspiration in this regard. Even though I got questioned on why I was into so many things at the same time, I didn’t give it a thought. If I believe I can do some things, I’d do it and will continue to do it,” he asserts.
In Subham, which opens in cinemas on May 9th, Gavireddy plays an alpha male. “It’s a character that will leave the audience in splits. I watched the film on Tuesday and my role has come out extraordinarily well. I can confidently say the film will be a super hit,” he promises, adding comedy comes naturally to him. “I have that timing. Maybe it has something to do with my roots; I come from Narsipatnam.”
Gavireddy goes on to add that Samantha’s advice to him during rehearsals helped his character. “Initially I approached the character by over-thinking a lot but Samantha garu said, ‘Gavireddy you have a peculiar body language, just mirror it and it will be enough’. I simply took her advice. The role is almost an extension of what I’m in real life, with minimum adjustments here and there. As a director, Praveen Kandregula gave us a freehand to perform. He just wanted us to be natural. He was receptive to good dialogues and incorporated them into the scenes.”
For Gavireddy to be where he is now, he had to endure a lot of setbacks. In a cutthroat industry, his first two directorials –Seethamma Andalu Ramayya Sitralu and Anubhavinchu Raja –have failed to light up the box office but he didn’t let those impediments get to him. So, what kept him going? “I came to the industry believing in myself. If I don’t believe in myself, why would others? Ok, I’ve got it wrong but let’s better myself and move forward. Don’t brood over the past. That has been my mantra,” he reasons, crediting people like Gopichand Malineni, Vassistha and Srikanth Nimmagadda for supporting him. “Vassistha and Srikanth have been a pillar of strength during my tough phase while Gopi garu continued to be my support system. I’m co-writing his next one too with Balayya garu. And right now if there’s one person who believed the director in me, then it has to be Prashanth Neel garu. It was through his guidance, a big project is coming from me with Hombale Films set to produce. The project was green-lit a long time ago but due to various factors, it got delayed. You will hear an announcement from us pretty soon.”
About the untitled project, he reveals that it’s an action drama set in a new backdrop while treading a new point.
Then there is Vishwambhara as well. He’s been a member of the film’s writing team. A diehard fan of megastar Chiranjeevi, Gavireddy’s passion for cinema grew by watching the former’s films and he considers him as his inspiration. “From meeting him on the first day to now, there’s only one feeling, ‘My boss, my God. I’m seeing him daily and working with him’. I can’t describe that energy. In my journey so far, the biggest moment is meeting him and working for his film. While narrating a scene, he would put his hand on my shoulder and say, ‘This is good’. That feeling…with his hand on my shoulder… was next level,” he exults, signing off.
