After playing a factionist son and a cop in Ram Gopal Varma’s Rowdy and Anukshanam, Manchu Vishnu will now be seen in a family drama, Erra Bus. Veteran director Dasari Narayana Rao is the film’s director and has also acted in the film.
“When I was in the US, Dasari garu called me and told me that he wanted to give me a gift. He said that he brought the rights of Tamil film Manja Pai and wanted to make it in Telugu. I did not know any details about my character, but I said ‘yes’,” says Vishnu.
After he come back to India and watched the Tamil film, Vishnu says he was a little puzzled and met Dasari seeking an explanation for casting him as an action and comedy hero, in such a film. “I asked him if I could justify the character in the film. He said he had immense confidence in my ability,” says Vishnu.
Dasari also told him that this film would prove his prowess as an actor. “It was a big challenge for me to act with Dasari. I learned a lot from Dasari in many departments,” says Vishnu.
About his association with Ram Gopal Varma, Vishnu says that when RGV approached him with a story his first thought was the budget. “I went ahead because of the budget. I made the film within a budget of Rs 3 crore and I got profits within the first few days itself,” says Vishnu.
On the row surrounding Bellamkonda Suresh, he blames everything on the producer. “He gave an advance to director Nageswara Reddy and Naga Chaitanya to make a film with them. After a long wait, Naga Chaitanya went on to another film and Nageswara Reddy waited for 10 months but the film did not materialise.
Now, Bellamkonda asked the director to repay the advance. Nageswara Reddy pointed out that he was idle for nearly ten months and asked who would pay for that.
The issue was discussed in the industry and later Nageswara Reddy agreed to return half of the advance, but Bellamkonda did not agree. It’s Bellamkonda's fault,” says Vishnu.
The producer had given an advance to Manoj to make a film, but no story was shared, so there was no progress on the film. “He used our Gandharva Mahal for shooting and didn’t pay the rent.
He told my sister Lakshmi to take rent from Manoj’s advance. My sister argued that it was not fair to connect the rent with Manoj’s advance. Moreover, Bellamkonda never complained in the Film Chamber or Producer Council. Why did he not?” asks Vishnu.
Vishnu also produced Current Theega that stars his brother Manoj, which went on to make good profits for Vishnu. “This film is one of the biggest revenue grossers in Manoj’s career,” he adds. Vishnu also has several projects lined up, including one with Sampoornesh Babu in the lead.
