'Maybe Ram Gopal Varma was a great salesman' - Nagarjuna

Akkineni Nagarjuna Rao, popularly known as Nagarjuna, has been one of the biggest stalwarts of Indian Cinema for nearly 4 decades now. Recently, he was seen collaborating with Ranbir Kapoor in Brahmastra-Part1:Shiva, Coolie with Rajinikant and Kubera with Dhanush.

But one film that stands tall in his huge filmography is Ram Gopal Varma’s Shiva which released in Telugu In 1989 and in Hindi in 1990. Attending the ongoing IFFI festival, Nagarjuna shared how he ended up collaborating with RGV. He shared that he wasn’t comfortable with the kind of work he was being offered, and had to carve a different path for himself, and that’s how he ended up working with Mani Ratnam in Geethanjali and Shiva with RGV.
Talking about choosing Shiva, Nagarjuna said, "RGV pitched Shiva to me, and I liked his sensibilities, every scene he had written in the film, he same a philosophy behind it. He was greatly influenced by Bruce Lee, Godfather and Ayan Rand. And he had a theory behind every dialogue and every sequence, and that impressed me a lot …maybe he was a great salesman(laughs)."
On the personal front, Nagarjuna Akkineni’s son, actor Naga Chaitanya, is set to tie the knot with his girlfriend, actress Sobhita Dhulipala, soon. In a recent interview, Nagarjuna shared his thoughts about his soon-to-be daughter-in-law. Reports suggest that the couple will get married on December 4. Nagarjuna also spoke about their marriage and family life.
In an interview with The New Indian Express, Nagarjuna reminisced about his favorite childhood memory with his father, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, particularly during film shoots. "He is someone who always lived on his own terms,” the actor revealed.
Nagarjuna described his wife, actress Amala Akkineni, as ethereal, saying, “She is very ethereal, and yet keeps me very grounded.”
The ‘Mass’ actor shared insights about his sons, calling his younger son, Akhil Akkineni, a "bundle of boundless energy," while referring to his elder son, Naga Chaitanya, as his "guru." He elaborated, “He is the one who tells me to calm down. He is my go-to person. If I am in trouble, I ask him for the next step to be taken because he is a very practical person.”
Discussing his role as a mentor in his children’s lives, Nagarjuna emphasized that merely giving advice is insufficient, as they all learn from each other. He also expressed his desire for his sons to carve their own paths in life, underscoring the importance of individuality and personal growth.

Talking about his soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Sobhita Dhulipala, Nagarjuna said, “She is a lovely girl, and she too is someone who lives life on her own terms. She could have done any kind of films or series, but she decides what to do with her career. She is very peaceful and content with her choices. I have received a lot of warmth from her, and I can see how happy they make each other.” He also revealed that he knew Sobhita before Chaitanya met her.
On the work front, Nagarjuna will next appear in Sekhar Kammula’s 'Kubera' alongside Dhanush and Rashmika Mandanna. He is also set to share the screen with Rajinikanth in Lokesh Kanagaraj’s 'Coolie'.