Allari Naresh goes to Kollywood

The actor, who is doing two Tamil films, tells us what it is to be a comic hero in a land of demigods
He is a no-frills-attached hero. The one without the hype, muscles, fan clubs, punch dialogues, dance moves, designer clothes, hair extensions or cosmetic surgeries. Comedy is his forte, yet Allari Naresh has carried off many memorable character roles as well.Be it the motorcycle thief Gali Seenu in ���������Gamyam���������, the obsessive lover, Vinod in ���������Nenu���������, or Malli in ���������Shambho Shiva Shambho���������, Naresh has shown his versatility as an actor in Tollywood. Now, the lanky actor is all set on doing another intense character, but this time it���������s for his upcoming Tamil-Telugu film, ���������Porali��������� (���������Sangarshana���������), directed by Samudrakani.
���������The film is the story of the struggle of four central characters. It is a gritty drama that has a raw intensity about it,��������� says Naresh, for whom it is a second coming of sorts after his Tamil debut with ���������Kurumbu��������� in 2003. ��������� I don���������t think many people remember that film. It���������s been a long time,��������� he interjects.
On his decision to do Tamil films again, he says, ���������I grew up in Chennai watching Kollywood films and dreamt of seeing myself as a hero on the Tamil screen. I don���������t think I am Bollywood hero material, so I want to make a name for myself in South Indian films.���������
Perhaps that explains why he���������s signed up another Tamil film already. ���������I have my dates booked for the next one year. I will have to fit in this film as well,��������� says Naresh, who is shooting for two untitled projects currently. Besides, he���������s got films with directors Sattibabu, Devi Prasad, and Trivikram Srinivas in the pipeline.
Allari Naresh is also doing a new 3D film to be produced by Anil Sunkara. ���������It is not a fantasy or a period drama. The idea is to do a 3D comedy film. We are planning for a summer release,��������� he reveals.
While most stars are struggling to do two to three films a year, Naresh routinely acts in about five to six films. Ask him how he does that and he says, ���������My films do not have any action episodes that take a lot of time to film. It takes about 45 days to complete a film ��������� 30 days for the scenes and 15 days for the songs.���������
Also, his films rarely flop at the BO, which has earned him the tag of being a ���������minimum guarantee hero.��������� Naresh says he just relies on gags to do the trick for him. ���������Comedy is a challenge for any actor. If an actor can carry off comedy successfully, I believe he/she carry off any emotion,��������� says Naresh.
Of his last three films ���������Aha Na Pellanta��������� and ���������Seema Tapakai��������� were hits while ���������Madatha Kaja��������� was an above average grosser. His mantra for success is simple. ���������When I listen to a script the most important thing for me is to see whether it makes me laugh. I believe cinema is all about entertainment.���������
Longing to break away from his own brand of comedy, Naresh says he wants to concentrate on visual comedy. ���������I realized I���������m talking too much in my films. I���������d really love to do visual comedy ������ la Charlie Chaplin. It���������s really challenging to portray emotions without dialogue,��������� he says.
Naresh also has a dubious distinction to his credit. It is believed he is unlucky for the leading ladies of his films! They just seem to struggle to find work after acting with him. ���������Well, Sneha Ullal acted with me in ���������Madatha Kaja��������� and she is now acting in a Tamil film. So, I don���������t know what to make of it,��������� he says smiling.
He admits to being baffled by some of the stuff that he hears about himself. ���������Someone once asked me that they heard that I sleep with all the women I act with in films. I did not know if I am supposed to be shocked or glad,��������� he says.
What���������s ironic is that Sneha Ullal recently said that Naresh is a shy co-star and prefers to rehearse the intimate scenes with his male assistant before doing the shot with the actress. ���������Well there are a hundred people watching you when shooting. Off-screen I am quite the romantic guy,��������� he adds. Guess we���������ll just have to go with him on that.