Ram Charan: I can’t call directors and dictate projects

Ram Charan

Actor Ram Charan says he doesn't believe in asking filmmakers to make a film keeping him in mind, as projects often fall apart if the process of making them is not organic. Charan, known for hits like Chirutha, Magadheera and Racha, had famously made his Hindi debut with the 2013 film Zanjeer, which was a remake of Amitabh Bachchan's classic 1973 movie of the same name. The Apoorva Lakhia-directorial venture was not received well and Charan never returned to Hindi films.

When asked about his absence from Bollywood, Charan said that he prefers to wait for makers to approach him, rather than asking them to design a project for him. "The way I look at it, actors don't choose directors. Directors do. I cannot call up a director and say, ‘Come let's do a movie together'. That never works. The maker has to envision us in his stories. If I come into a project organically after a character has been written, it has more impact than me saying, ‘Let's make a love story, let's make a James Bond style film,'" the actor, 36, said.

Poster of RRR

Charan believes that whenever actors try to get projects tailored for them, the end result are disastrous. "If you start writing something because the actor has asked you to, it goes haywire, it is all over the place. Now with social media presence and [OTT], everything is seamless. People's work is being recognised. Directors have the opportunity to pen down something thinking of us, but they need to come," he adds.

The Rangasthalam star said the acceptance of streaming platforms and widespread social media presence has ensured that makers today are not limited by geographical boundaries. In his upcoming film RRR, helmed by filmmaker SS Rajamouli, the actor is joined by Telugu star Jr NTR along with Bollywood actors Alia Bhatt and Ajay Devgn. This was possible, Charan said, because everything today is pan India, a feat, which he also credited to Rajamouli's Baahubali franchise. "Boundaries have been broken with Baahubali. Before that people had certain perceptions about South cinema. Now it is so seamless. Today, directors can choose actors across the state, be it Bengali or Malayali actors. Social media and OTT have played a huge role. Because people see each other's work, Alia [Bhatt, RRR co-star] came here and people from here are going there. This is the best time in Indian cinema. We are able to explore ourselves in different mediums and languages. Directors have a lot more options today. They are no longer stuck with Telugu actors for Telugu directors. It is a wonderful and fascinating time to be an actor," he added.

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