I have no fear of working with debutant filmmakers: Nani

'Mass entertainers are the backbone of cinema'

- AVINASH RAMACHANDRAN

THE iconic Maya Angelou once said, "When you T learn, teach. When you get, give." Not wanting to get blinded in the showy limelight of cinema, 'Natural Star' Nani strongly believes in the concept of paying it forward. "Somebody gave me the platform to prove myself. Now, when I can do the same for others, it won't be right if I don't do this for other newcomers," says Nani, whose upcoming big-ticket film, Dasara, is directed by a debutant filmmaker Srikanth Odela. When pointed out that he is one of the few outliers in a world where stars want to do bigger films with experienced filmmakers, Nani simply shrugs it all off, and says, "I see it as my responsibility, but I don't do it just for the sake of it either. I do it only if I love their work, and I am confident about their vision. It is not like I don't work with experienced directors either. There is a balance. But I have no fear of working with debutants. I don't see these attempts as risks. It is all about what excites me."

It is this excitement that has made Nani give it all for Dasara. "If it was up to me, I would ask the makers to exhibit the film for free after gaining profits because I want everyone to see the world Srikanth has envisioned in the film," says Nani, who swells with pride when talking about the Dasara filmmaker. "He isn't a great narrator but he kept me engaged for four hours while he narrated Dasara. I liked the honesty in his narration, and it was infectious enough for me to get onboard."