Telugu actor Sudheer Babu, who is making his Bollywood debut as the antagonist in Sajid Nadiadwala-produced “Baaghi”, says it wasn’t easy to compete with co-actor Tiger Shroff on so many levels. “It was really important that I matched Tiger on all parameters and it wasn’t easy. Given that Tiger has been trained in martial arts for a long time, I had to put in extra effort to be on par with him,” Sudheer told IANS, and added that he underwent training in various forms of martial arts, including Kalaripayattu, to play his part.

Recalling how he landed the project, Sudheer, who has already completed shooting for two schedules of the project, said: “It was a show reel featuring stunts from my first film that caught the attention of producer Sajid. “They were on the lookout for an actor who could match up Tiger in terms of physique, action and overall energy. When they saw my video, they realised that I would fit the bill.” But considering that Sudheer is popular for his work in Telugu films such as “Siva Manasulo Sruthi”, “Prema Katha Chithram” and “Aadu Magaadra Bujji”, didn’t he mind playing the antagonist in a new industry?

“I’m aware of my popularity in Telugu cinema and I’m getting plenty of offers to choose from. But ‘Baaghi’ was a project I couldn’t say no to. Though I’ve done some good roles in Telugu films, but never have I done an interesting character with such shades,” he said. “I never got the opportunity to stretch beyond my capability but this character gave me the freedom go the distance with my performance,” he added. Sudheer also believes most lead actors nowadays are open to the idea of playing a baddie.

“Several yesteryear actors started off their careers by playing villains and slowly went on to become heroes. The current generation of actors, though, are not very particular about playing the hero or villain. That’s why some of them even play a hero with negative shades,” he said. Sudheer is pitted against Tiger in the film, which is rumoured to be the remake of Telugu blockbuster “Varsham”. His role is said to be extremely challenging and yet, he chose to work in the film.

“As an actor, I’ve always wanted to do good roles. It didn’t matter to me whether I was playing the protagonist or antagonist. What really always concerned me was whether my role had enough scope to perform and expand my horizons,” he said. Talking about the experience of working in a new industry, he said: “The preparation for the roles is similar because depending on the role, one works on the body language and style irrespective of the language.”

“What I found new was the experience of shooting in Hindi. I know the language really well and have no problem conversing in it. Yet, the experience does seem different because I am so used to a working atmosphere where Telugu is being spoken all around,” he said. Directed by Sabbir Khan, the film also features Shraddha Kapoor.

Actresses Sushma Raj and Richa Panai have been paired with actor Sunil in upcoming romantic-drama “Eedu Gold Ehe”, which has already gone on the floors.

“Both of them were confirmed last week. While Sushma will join the sets this week, Richa will join later this month. It’s a story with equal weightage for both the actresses,” a source from the film’s unit told IANS.

Being directed by Veeru Potla, the film is produced by Anil Sunkara’s AK Entertainments.The makers are planning to wrap up the film in two months. Sunil, is meanwhile awaiting the release of Telugu entertainer “Krishnashtami” and another yet-untitled Telugu project.

ABN Radhakrishna is back to KCR-bashing in the New Year. In an editorial in his newspaper, he was skeptical of KCR’s motives behind the recently conducted Yagam. But what was even more amazing to see was his comments directed at his contemporaries, Narendra Chowdary and Ramoji Rao.

“Sensing that there is a good market for Bhakti in the Telugu speaking states, some media heads are completely focused on this. As soon as ‘Karthika Masam’ sets in, they are vying with one another to conduct Deepotsavams.

Not wanting to be left out, even Ramoji Rao is starting an ‘Om City’. He has even requested the Telangana government for this purpose. And to think that Ramoji was once a confirmed atheist by his own admission,” wrote RK in his editorial.

Well! Well! Well! What is the world coming to? Does Radhakrishna really mean what he says? Or did he write this stuff only to enhance his own image whereas in private, he would be ringing up Narendra Chowdary and Ramoji Rao and explaining his version to them while seeking their blessings?

We have already reported the hot affair going on between Sai Dharam Tej and Regina, now comes an info that another young actor Naga Shaurya is also in love with an actress. The latest buzz is about the real off-screen love story of Naga Shaurya and Rashi Khanna who had acted together in Oohalu Gusa Gusalade.

Although Naga Shaurya and Rashi Khanna have moved on further in their career since the release of the movie, they have become serious about each other recently, says the buzz.

On the other hand, Naga Shaurya laughs at these rumors. While interacting with the media during the promotion of his movie, he denied relationship with Rashi saying he hasn’t talked to her in the last six months. But as they say no smoke comes without fire, right!

Actor Gautham Kurup, who shared screen space with Nandamuri Balakrishna in forthcoming Telugu actioner “Dictator”, says the latter ensured that he was absolutely comfortable on the sets.

“It was wonderful working with him. He insisted that I call him Bala, and not refer to him as sir. Not only was he friendly, but he also encouraged me to work in more Telugu films. He made me feel so comfortable,” Gautham, who plays one of the baddies in the film, told IANS.

The movie, which is directed by Sriwass, marks Gautham’s debut in Telugu filmdom. “I have a brief role. Bala and I have two scenes. Though it’s a small role, I didn’t mind taking it up because it was important for me to start my Telugu innings with the right project. I couldn’t have got a better film,” he said.

“Dictator”, which also stars Anjali and Sonal Chauhan, is slated for release on January 13. Gautham, who has worked in Tamil films such as “Thuppakki” and “Nerungi Vaa Muthamidathe”, is in talks for several projects. His debut Hindi film “Bhanwarey” is gearing up for release.

Gone are the days where a blockbuster movie used to have a marathon run at the theaters. Even all time blockbusters like Baahubali couldn’t get past four weeks run in many screens. So releasing a movie in as many screens as possible is the doctor’s order to be in a safe zone. It is not easy to get good amount of theaters if the competition is high.

Sadly competition is at an all time high for this year’s Pongal releases with five movies eyeing to cash in on the festive season. Trade kept on stressing that at least 2 or 3 films will back out of the race but no one seems to be in mood to step back. Five movies are in race as of now and it looks like there wouldn’t be any last minute postponements.

No movie among the Pongal releases will get more than 500 theaters across Telugu states. Being the craziest and the biggest of the lot Nannaku Prematho is bound to get the lion share. Trade says even Nannaku Prematho will not be able to get more than 500 theaters because of the mad rush.

Nenu Sailaja turning out to be a super hit means it will hold a good number of screens for the festival. That makes it even more difficult for the Pongal releases as six movies should share the available 1400 theaters in Telugu States.

The stage is all set for a grand worldwide release of Balakrishna’s high budget action entertainer, Dictator. The film, which will hit the screens on this 14th, has wrapped up its shooting yesterday and the post-production work is in its final stage. Promotions have already gained momentum, with Balayya himself giving interviews to various media houses.

In one such interview, Balayya did the unthinkable. When the overenthusiastic anchor asked Balayya about the message Dictator will be giving out to fans, Balayya revealed the entire plot-line of a 10 minute crucial sequence in which he rescues Sonal Chauhan from the clutches of the film’s villains. Balayya even revealed a few punch dialogues from one of his confrontation scenes with the villains.

Here’s an interesting sequence involving Balayya, Sonal Chauhan and the villains, revealed by Balayya himself: Sonal, a wannabe film star, gets into a financial tiff with the baddies. In the process, she meets the hero (Balayya) and the villain seals his own destiny by mistakenly giving Balayya his visiting card and asks him to clear Sonal’s loan.

In a following sequence, Sonal is kidnapped by the villain’s gang while she was on a phone conversation with Balayya. Balayya immediately rushes to the villain’s den, by locating the address mentioned in the visiting card. He then fights the goons and rescues Sonal, after a heavy duty confrontation scene.

Usually, filmmakers maintain heavy secrecy about their films and their dialogues until the theatrical release. However, Balayya proved to be a different customer in this regard and this only shows his confidence levels about the film, which he promises to be featuring many hair-raising sequences.

Union minister Nitin Gadkari spilled the controversial beans regarding the Padma Bhushan awards. Gadkari revealed that veteran actress Asha Parekh had approached him and had sought recommendations for the award.

He further said that many others had ‘chased’ him to gain the highest civilian award. Giving away Padma awards has turned a ‘headache’ these days, he said.

“One actress met me, she has turned old…Asha Parekh. She came to meet me in Mumbai. The lift to my residence was not working, she climbed up 12 floors, I felt very bad. I asked her why she took the trouble,” Gadkari said.

On hearing the request for being honoured with the third highest civilian award that is Padma Bhushan, which comes after Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, Gadkari replied that she had already been honoured with Padmashree. However, the actress felt that she was entitled to be honoured with Padma Bhushan due to her achievements and contributions in film industry. Attempts to turn Parekh’s request into reality did not turn fruitful.

Parekh was honoured with Padmashree in 1992 and was felicitated with Lifetime Achievement award in 2014.

Tollywood stars are slowly catching up with their Bollywood counterparts in terms of finding themselves in embarrassing linkup gossips. Two such  actors are the Oohalu Gusagusalaade couple, Naga Shaurya and Raashi Khanna, who have been in news for their alleged off screen romance.

For the last one year, there have been several rumors doing the rounds that both Naga Shaurya and Raashi Khanna are no longer friends but that they seeing each other romantically. Breaking his silence finally, Naga Shaurya laughed off at the rumors and said that he has not even spoken to Raashi in the last six months.

Interestingly, Naga Shaurya’s revelation is almost similar to that of Raashi Khanna’s, who also said in an interview around a month ago that she had not been talking to her Oohalu Gusagusalaade hero since several months. These revelations from both the young stars should put an end to the rumors.

Popular actress and YSRCP’s firebrand lady politician Roja may have been going through a crisis in her political life, but if the ongoing reports in the Kollywood media circles are anything to go by, the actress has a tribute in store as her life story will soon be made as a biopic on the silver screen.

Just like in politics, Roja’s quick rise in films was also nothing short of a sensation. In her career as an actress, Roja acted in numerous films in Telugu and Tamil and shared screen space with almost all the leading stars in both the film industries. Roja then fell in love with popular Tamil director RK Selvamani and tied the knot eventually.

At the end of her career as a heroine, Roja stepped into politics and took a while to settle down in politics. In the process, the actress shuttled between various political parties to gain a strong  foothold in public life, before joining YSRCP and being elected as Nagari MLA. Roja’s political life has always been a stormy affair and recently, she was even suspended from the AP Assembly for a year.

Nandamuri Balakrishna’s Dictator is releasing this Sankranthi but his 100th film will not be launched in the next two or three months. Dictator is his 99th movie and he announced earlier that he would be starting his 100th movie in the direction of Boyapati Srinu in early 2016.

Media reports and latest press statements suggest that Boyapati Srinu who is at present directing Allu Arjun’s Sarainodu will be starting a movie with Bellamkonda Srinivas as hero from April. Bellamkonda Srinivas also informed the media that his next film is with Boyapati.

Hence Boyapati won’t be starting Balakrishna’s milestone movie till the year end. All Nandamuri fans were waiting for the launch of this movie in April once Boyapati wraps off Sarainodu but Balayya and Boyapati seems to have other plans. The reason for delay is cited as lack of right script. Boyapati directed two blockbusters with Balakrishna – Simha and Legend.