Tollywood star Allu Arjun has played an extended cameo in the period flick Rudhramadevi. Starring Anushka Shetty in the lead, the film was released in Telugu and Malayalam on Friday. The Tamil version will hit screens on October 16, and the actor says he’s a little curious though he is not doing a full-fledged role in this big-budget movie. “I’m not playing the lead, so no tension. But I’m very curious how the movie will turn out. I have done this special role with what I believe are genuinely good intentions — to support a film that aims to tell stories from Telugu history, its culture and tradition. I want to know how the audience will receive the movie.”
Allu Arjun, however, did a bit more than just step in with good intentions. He played the role of a prominent chieftain under Queen Rudhramadevi’s rule — for free! Director-producer Gunasekhar and the actor’s gesture saved the movie from imminent death. “The film was stopped because no one had come forward to play this special character. After I heard about the problem, I called up Gunasekhar and told him I was willing to do it. He then asked me about my salary but I told him to not worry about that... some roles are more important than just money,” he says.
The actor who enjoys a good fan base in Kerala, has plans to attempt a few changes in his future projects to tap into the growing Malayali fan base. He however considers Bollywood as an ‘unnecessary risk’. “All of us can test waters in Mumbai. But keep in mind this: I will have to completely leave the South industry and focus for at least five to ten years to develop a career there. So, it’s not really practical or recommended, which is why many of us don’t take up Hindi films. You need guts and more importantly, a willingness to leave everything behind.”
But the actor also feels equations are changing. “I feel Bollywood is slowly recognising the south as a major market. Soon, the best of actors from Bollywood and the south could team up and create massive, multi-starrer, multi-language films that will run in theatres across states — no more boundaries. This is happening and in another three to four years we should be seeing a final product.
