King Nagarjuna is currently on a promotional spree for his upcoming pan-India release Kuberaa, where he shares screen space with Dhanush and Rashmika Mandanna. While the buzz around Kuberaa is building strong, Nagarjuna is also drawing attention for his recent comments about picking impactful characters over conventional lead roles—a decision he says has kept him creatively alive for decades.
Speaking candidly, Nagarjuna said, “Right from the beginning of my career, I was never insecure about not playing the lead. Post Shiva and Geethanjali, I signed Khuda Gawah (1992) in Hindi—where Amitabh Bachchan was the hero. I’ve always looked for strong, meaningful parts rather than screen time. Even in Ajay Devgn’s Zakhm (1998), I had a supporting role, but it had weight. Same with several Telugu films too.”
When asked what led him back to embracing such character-driven roles again, Nagarjuna admitted he went through a brief phase of confusion regarding film selection. That’s when Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmastra Part One: Shiva came his way and changed things. “Brahmastra opened a new path for me, an opportunity to explore layered, powerful characters in big spectacles,” he shared. “Though my role as Anish Shetty was small in screen time, it was strong in impact. I genuinely believe mine was the most impactful role in the film.”
Despite Brahmastra facing online backlash over its writing and an overstuffed star cast, Nagarjuna’s portrayal of the Nandi Astra wielder stood out and earned praise from critics and fans alike.
Following Brahmastra, one of Telugu cinema’s most cerebral directors, Shekhar Kammula, approached Nagarjuna with Kuberaa. “When Shekhar came to me, I instantly liked the story. It had soul and meaning, and I saw potential in the role.”
Not stopping there, Nagarjuna revealed how the most unexpected call came from none other than Lokesh Kanagaraj for the Rajinikanth-starrer Coolie. “Lokesh said, ‘I have a role for you—an antagonist. But if you’re not comfortable, let’s just have coffee and leave it.’ I told him, ‘No need for coffee. Narrate the script. If I like it, I’m in. I have no issues playing the villain if the role is powerful.’”
This candidness and clarity in Nagarjuna’s choices reflect his versatility and willingness to evolve with time. As he gears up for a remarkable slate ahead, Kuberaa with Shekhar Kammula is releasing on June 20, and Coolie with Lokesh Kanagaraj is slated for an Independence weekend release.
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