Popular character actor Brahmaji’s son Sanjay Rao is making his debut as lead actor with Pitta Katha. Sanjay talks of the struggles he had to face to reach this point
No bed of roses
“Initially I thought that since my father is a popular actor and knows everyone in the industry, it would easy for me. But I was wrong”, says Sanjay, who quit his job in the Merchant Navy to pursue a film career. “Everyone has to struggle and success depends only on an individual’s talent.” Though his job in the Merchant Navy was well-paying, Sanjay didn’t find satisfaction in it. “So, I decided to do something creative.” He said his parents had encouraged him when he told them of his decision. Sanjay revealed that he had trained under the popular Alok Ulfat and later, at the Devadas Kanakala school. He subsequently worked as assistant to popular director Krishna Vamsi for the film Nakshatram. “Krishna Vamsi is a knowledge bank and working with him was a big learning for me. It helped me understand the technicalities of filmmaking and that helped me to perform in my debut film,” he added.
A long wait
After the training in 2017, Sanjay waited for an opportunity to take up acting, but “Nothing came my way. That was when I met Chandu and we made a short film with a 5D camera. We, a 16-member team, went to Amalapuram to shoot for this two-hour film. With the help of a few friends we made the background score and added other technical values,” he revealed. However, the film could not be released as it was shot with a 5D camera, and there was no backup. It was taken to many big production houses but didn’t find takers till they approached Bhavya Creations, who came forward to make a big film. Filmmaker Chandrasekhar Yeleti supervised the project and gave a few suggestions. The production house also gave some suggestions. “Pitta Katha is ready for release in the first week of March,” says Sanjay, who is both nervous and excited at the thought.
Supporting roles
It has been a struggle, lasting three years from the making of the short film. At one point, the actor says, he had thought of giving up the idea of entering cinema, and returning to the Merchant Navy. “But my parents, wife and sister stood by me.” Struggle is nothing new to Sanjay. “I have had a few bad things happen to me”, he says. “At that time my wife Anupreet put my life back together”, he reveals, adding, his sister Rishika Das Roy and his parents always supported him in everything too. Sai Dharam Tej, Regina Cassandra and Hebah Patel are others who advise and encourage him, he says.
Pitta Katha is enjoying a lot of support from the Telugu film industry as well. Filmmakers Trivikram Srinivas, Koratala Siva and Mahesh Babu launched the teasers of the movie, and many people from the industry have been posting on social media about the film. “Daddy was in the industry for so many years and he had very cordial relations with everyone. His good name is benefitting me,” says an upbeat Sanjay.
