It’s been barely two years since he entered showbiz, but Kartikeya Gummakonda looks like a quick learner because he seems to be getting all the ropes of the trade perfectly in place. At least the title of his forthcoming film, 90 ML, which is directed by Sekhar Reddy, vouches for that! “Good or bad, my film has been the talking point, right? I realised that it is important for actors like us that our film’s title grabs the eyeballs and creates a buzz,” explains Kartikeya, who is glad that the poster and trailer have put an end to all the misconceptions about the film.
“90 ML is not preachy about alcohol. It is about a guy who was born with a disease whose medicine is alcohol consumption as per doctor’s prescription. Once he turns an adult, his dosage increases to 90ml. Hence, the caption of the film is ‘authorised drinker’,” elaborates Kartikeya. Adding that the film has an emotional angle too, the actor speaks about his role in the film.
“I’ve tried playing an entertaining role for the first time, even as the film showcases how the protagonist tackles life issues,” he explains, revealing that he was initially apprehensive about whether he could pull off such a role.
But the Hippie star then reveals that his biggest realisation since he debuted in Tollywood has been looking at a script in its totality. “Earlier, I used think of how engaging my role can be, but over time, I began understanding that the audience come to the theatres trusting my film. So, I have become more responsible now,” explains Kartikeya. The actor then reflected on his journey in the industry. “I’ve seen ups and downs and have understood that I had a great platform in the form of my debut film RX 100, and that it is important that I build on that start. But I also wanted to try different genre films to reach out to a wider audience. To this end, my role as a baddie in Nani-starrer Gang Leader helped me get a great mileage for this film,” Kartikeya adds.
